Sport
18 August, 2023
Tight race to finals
WITH just two rounds remaining, the Hampden League top five is all but settled.
South Warrnambool is sitting a comfortable two games clear of its nearest rivals, Koroit, and should be confident of finishing the home and away rounds as minor premiers.
They will wind up their home and away season with games against Cobden and Portland.
However, the finishing positions of the remaining four are yet to be finalised, with only a game separating second to fifth.
The second-placed Saints will face fifth-side Terang Mortlake this weekend before a final round clash with North Warrnambool (currently sitting third). North Warrnambool handed the Roosters their third loss of the season last weekend, gaining the Eagles valuable points on the leaderboard.
Playing at Friendlies on Saturday, the Eagles came from behind in the third term and took their momentum into the final quarter to run home four-point victors.
In what was a low-scoring affair, the Roosters went into the main break with a 12-point lead, however, the Eagles put the foot down in the third, adding a valuable two goals three while keeping the Roosters to just a point.
The third quarter proved the winning one for the Eagles, who finished with a marginal victory, 6.13.49 to 6.9.45.
Best for the Eagles were Jarryd Lewis, Benjamin Mugavin, Charlie McKinnon, Jackson Grundy, Jett Bermingham and Callum Grundy.
Bermingham booted two goals for the day and was well supported on the board by team-mates Jackson Grundy, Dylan Parish, Fletcher Timms and Adam Wines who each contributed a goal.
For the Roosters, Ricky Henderson kicked three, Will White two and Ollie Bridgewater contributed one. Best for the side were Isaac Thomas, Luamon Lual, Daniel Nicholson, Ricky Henderson, Ollie Bridgewater and Jeremy Mugavin.
In other round 16 Hampden League games, Cobden defeated Port Fairy, Camperdown had a win over Portland, Koroit took the points over Hamilton and Terang Mortlake were 20-point winners over the Blues.
Round 17 tomorrow will see Hamilton and Camperdown meet at Dunkeld, Koroit will host the Bloods, Warrnambool will be home to North, Cobden will travel to Friendlies to meet South while Port Fairy will host Portland.
