Cream rises to the top

EAGLES SHOW CLASS AFTER QUARTER-TIME TO BELT SWANS FOR 24TH STRAIGHT WIN

And it continues. Shepparton East has won its 24th consecutive match after beating Katunga by 42 points in a relatively onesided affair at Central Avenue on Saturday.

After Katunga jumped out to a nine-point quarter-time lead, the Eagles clawed back the ascendency kicking five goals to one in the second term to lead by 16 points at half-time.

‘‘They started well and kicked straight compared to us, we were pretty inaccurate and the message at quarter-time was to settle, play our game and control the tempo,’’ the Eagles’ coach Dwain Vidler said.

‘‘In the end we did, I thought it was a good hitout and we deservedly got the four points to continue our good start to the season.’’

Last year’s century goalkicker Cobey Aynsley slotted three majors for the reigning premier, while Jackson Milne also slotted three in his first senior match this year.

‘‘We had a few good forwards, but I think overall it was a really good team performance, everyone played their part and their was no real star performer,’’ Vidler said.

Ricky Frappell was ever present yet again for the Eagles, while defender David Gillespie did a good job on Katunga forward Callum Wilson.

Wilson, who played six AFL games for the West Coast Eagles, had been in dominant form to start the season, but Gillespie’s uncanny approach was enough to keep him to four goals.

‘‘Wilson is a quality player and I thought Gillespie did well; Wilson kicked a few early ones, but as the game wore on he had his measure,’’ Vidler said.

Katunga coach Daniel Burness was pleased with his side’s performance, despite the eight-goal loss.

‘‘We were pretty good, but we just got outclassed Did the job: in the end,’’ Burness said.

‘‘They are a quality side and it showed, they proved too strong.’’

If anything, Burness hoped his side could improve its consistency as the season continued.

‘‘To beat these good sides a lot of things need to go right and we needed to maintain our consistency and intensity for longer,’’ Burness said.

‘‘We hung in there, but not for long enough.’’

Shepparton East defender David Gillespie (left) kept Katunga gun Callum Wilson to four goals, particularly nullifying his influence after half-time as the Eagles won by seven goals for their 24th straight success.