Cats conquer Bloods
TRAFALGAR put in another competitive effort but has again fallen just short against one of the leading teams in the Ellinbank District competition in Neerim-Neerim South.
Much like the match against ladder leaders Buln Buln, the Bloods were in the contest at the final change but couldn't go on with it as the Cats won 9-9 (63) to 4-9 (33) to continue their climb back up the ladder.
The match was played on a slippery surface that would ultimately see only 10 goals scored across the first three terms of the contest.
With a re-mark of the lines ahead of the main game, it would be Neerim-Neerim South who would score first as a long shot from Lachlan Bambridge cleared the line.
A long goal from Curtis Barker levelled the scores as neither side could find the ascendency early. While Trafalgar's midfielders were getting to the contest in numbers, Neerim-Neerim South showed flashes of speed that troubled the Bloods.
Ayden Ramm and Tom Muir linked through the middle to find Luke Kinder for a goal in what would be his first of four, proving the most effective forward of the day.
Trafalgar pressure forced a turnover late in the term, Daniel Baker and Matthew Swenson combining to put one over the top for Klay Butler to roll one through on the siren.
Play often fluctuated on the clubroom wing as the dour struggle continued. Trafalgar would break through first, a rundown tackle setting up a short pass to captain Dylan Farrell, who duly converted.
The lead would be short-lived for the Bloods, Bambridge making the most of another opportunity to put the Cats back in front.
Brock Dorling went streaming through centre half forward to increase the lead and then got involved again, Kinder on the end of a short pass for his second.
Mitch Virtue, Jamie Hines, Farrell, Jace Butler, Ben Cunico and Bailey Webb were among Trafalgar's best, with a two-goal deficit at the final change not beyond the realms of possibility.
The struggle continued into the final term before the Cats eventually broke it open. Tyssen Morrow, Alexander Johnston, Matthew Edwards, Kinder, the returning Kody Wilson and Ramm helping the Cats lift.
The Cats re-loaded on a forward entry to find Kinder just inside the arc, and he added his third.
Good follow up work was rewarded with a snap on goal as the Cats finished full of running.
Tom Gill and Isaac Fuller linked on the wing in another impressive attack. They went long and fittingly it was Kinder who would put the icing on the cake, finding plenty of space to stroll in for his fourth.