The Standard | SOUTH Rovers has added itself to the list of Warrnambool and District league finals contenders with victory in the closest match of the season.
The Lions made amends for a three-point defeat to Allansford the previous round by holding out a fast-finishing Nirranda by two points at Walter Oval.
Mitch Couch had an opportunity to snatch the points for the Blues with a shot from about 25 metres out on a tough angle deep in the last quarter.
But his effort went wide. The siren sounded about 10 seconds after the Lions brought the ball back in play, with the match ending 10.11 (71) to 9.15 (69).
South Rovers coach Nathan Isles believed the Lions played well enough to win but conceded they “got out of jail” thanks to the late miss. They kicked 2.0 to 2.5 in the last term while all six of their second-half majors came off the boot of Mark Murphy, who was goalless to the long break.
“It was a little bit of an arm wrestle in the last quarter. We got out to nine points, which gave us some breathing space,” Isles said.
“Then they kicked again and took the lead. We got one more back, Mark kicked another one late. It was contest after contest. Finally the siren went.”
Isles was pleased with his players’ perseverance. Like against the Cats, they kicked against the wind late but stayed in the contest. “To have that result against the flow of momentum, against the breeze, when things are going against you and you’ve got to work harder, it was really good.”
But more importantly, they finally have a win against a fellow finals hopeful. Defeats to Dennington, Allansford and Kolora-Noorat preceded the triumph.
“That’s six wins now, we play East, Creek and Deakin again. We hope that takes us to at least nine,” Isles said.
“Then we play Dennington, Nirranda, Panmure and Timboon all again. If we can take at least two of those four games, that takes us to 11 wins.”
Lions utility Jack Downie was “best afield by a mile” at centre half-back. Julian Claridge, Jake Bacon and Tom Bowmen were also influential.
Murphy was the other game changer. Opponent Jack Spokes was among the Blues’ best, but Murphy delivered when required.
“I put the acid on at half-time, he was down and out and hadn’t given us much. He certainly came good,” Isles said.
Nirranda coach Aidan Cole believed there were positives to emerge for the undermanned Blues, despite the agonising defeat.
Former Rovers junior John Paulin was their best player while Josh Irving and Dylan Willsher provided run on the wings.
James Dalton (three goals) and Matt Lloyd (two) were prominent headlining a makeshift forward line. Spokes also earned credit for his job on Murphy.
“I felt Jack did a terrific job on him, shut him right down. His goals came from little loopy handballs over the top,” Cole said.
Cole was hopeful the loss wouldn’t prove fatal to the Blues’ finals hopes. They are seventh, a game behind the sixth-ranked Lions.
“You’ve got to take it as it comes. It’s a loss, you’ve got to work on the week after and keep building on the structures you’ve set in place,” he said.
Elsewhere, Dennington breezed past an undermanned Timboon Demons 30.10 (190) to 4.6 (30) at Dennington Recreation Reserve. Alex Pye kicked nine goals in a best-afield performance — his third from five matches this season. Jordan Greene and Jake Boyle also impressed. Chris Chambers and Josh Stapleton kicked 10 goals each as Old Collegians hammered Deakin University 37.19 (241) to 2.6 (18) at the Pond.
The pair were among the Warriors’ best, along with Colby Rix for a second consecutive week.
