The Courier |
LAKE Wendouree notched up its first win of the BFL season in emphatic fashion on Saturday, dispatching a lack-lustre Melton at Wendouree.
It wasn't a match that pleased the eye, but that mattered little to the Lakers, who ran riot in the second half to win 13.17 (95) to 6.7 (43).
In a clash that lacked a great deal of free-flowing football and swift movement, it came down to which side wanted it more.
And in the second half in particular that was Lake Wendouree.
It was in fact Melton that started the game better, booting the first two goals of the match while holding the home side goalless at the first break.
However, a late surge in the dying moments of the second quarter saw the Lakers take the lead and head into the main break with all the momentum.
Towering ruckman Matthew Tumminello and captain Tim "Moth" Malone had led by example and Ben Hayes had showed glimpses of his enormous talent.
From that point onwards, it was a procession.
Nine goals to the Bloods' three in the second half, including a string of six consecutive Lake Wendouree majors in the final term once Melton heads had dropped, saw the young Lakers open their account in style.
Brent Olszewski was still showing signs of a heavy knock he copped to his thigh in round one, but still managed to boot four goals, including three in the last quarter.
Coach Gavin Webb, who was directing from the sidelines due to concussion he suffered last week, said he was pleased just to get a win on the board.
"It was nothing pretty, but to just be able to get some reward for effort was great," he said.
"We've still got a lot of guys out, so it will give the young guys a lot of confidence in what we're trying to do.
"We are on the right track, everyone's just got to be patient and stick with it."
Unlike previous weeks, the Lakers also managed to escape injury-free for the first time this year.
For Melton, it was difficult to pinpoint many winners across the ground.
Key forward Tate McCutcheon was influential early with two goals and Jake Gleeson battled hard all day in the midfield.
Lake Wendouree now faces the daunting task of meeting Sunbury next, while Melton will consider itself a genuine chance of winning its first game of the season against Bacchus Marsh.
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