Shepp News |
A new-look Shepparton under-18s side continues to charge towards Goulburn Valley Football League finals.
The Bears more than doubled their three-quarter-time score in the final term to put away an inaccurate Shepparton United side by 20 points at Deakin Reserve on Saturday.
Buoyed by the return of its contingent of senior players, including Lachie Baldwin, Nikolaus Rokahr, Mitch Brett and Tyler Larkin, they made it back-to-back wins and maintained the pressure on Mooroopna in sixth place.
The Cats belted Shepparton Swans by 114 points on Sunday to extend its percentage advantage over the Bears to more than 19 per cent, but face second-placed United in the final round.
The Bears host the Swans.
Shepparton coach Clint Dudgeon said it was always nice to beat the club’s home ground rival, but particularly with so much at stake.
‘‘We’ve brought our boys from seniors back and the team has changed,’’ Dudgeon said.
‘‘We gave them the option and they all decided to come back and finish the season with us.
‘‘We knew we had to win and it was good to come out with a performance like that against a top two side.’’
The Demons led by two points at quarter-time, but despite boasting five more scoring shots, scores were level at half-time.
That trend continued after the main break, as United added two goals and seven behinds to the 2.9 it managed in the first half.
The Bears were clinical and booted five goals to one in the final term to win comfortably.
Dudgeon said the Demons’ struggles were a credit to his side.
‘‘They kicked a few points, but it was not like they were traditional misses,’’ he said.
‘‘Our pressure was telling and the way we finished the game was really pleasing.’’
Baldwin was the star of the show, working hard in and under all day, while key defenders Jye Borg and Jake Allen were instrumental, marking strongly and setting up play from defence.
