Jasper leads Saints in inspiring win
Asurprise win against Ararat has Horsham Saints in prime position to oust cross-city rival Horsham from Wimmera Football League finals for the first time since 2001.
An inspired performance from the Saints on the road saw them win an 8.12 (60) to 6.10 (46) arm wrestle against the second-placed Rats with three goals to one in the last quarter.
The hard-running Sam Jasper played arguably his best game of the year, finishing with a goal and creating opportunities for his teammates.
Key forward Angus Martin and coach Luke Fisher kicked two goals each to be among the Saints’ best, while ruckman Michael Rowe and midfielder Sam Clyne helped win the ball out of the middle.
The loss represented a rare misstep for the Rats, who were led by Liam Arnott, Jack Ganley and Daniel Mendes.
Ararat remains second on the ladder but the real intrigue is around fifth place, where the Saints displaced Horsham.
The injury-struck Demons kicked only one goal after quarter time in a 7.12 (54) to 3.3 (21) loss to Stawell at Central Park on Saturday, slumping to sixth in the standings.
Cody Driscoll did the bulk of the scoreboard damage with four goals for the Warriors, while Tom Eckel was superb with two and defender Jackson Dark controlled the game well.
Midfielder Alex Harfield and backman Ben Lakin gave their all for the Demons, but Horsham was outmatched and could not keep up after a tight first quarter.
Horsham, now four points and percentage behind the Saints, faces what looms as a season-defining game against Dimboola on Saturday, with the Roos coming off a 19.18 (132) to 6.8 (44) thrashing of Warrack Eagles.
It was only the second win of the season for the Roos, who finally got reward for their hard work.
Sam Godden led the rout of the Eagles with six majors, coach Justin Beugelaar kicked four and Darcy Dubois and Matthew Rosier were prominent.
As has been the case in many of the Eagles’ recent losses, coach Ryan Mckenzie and Jake and Nick Peters were left shouldering most of the workload.
Inaccuracy nearly cost Minyip-murtoa its bid for an undefeated season against Southern Mallee Giants, with the Burras escaping with an 8.19 (67) to 10.6 (66) win on Saturday.
Led by Luke Chamberlain, MinyipMurtoa built a 42-point lead at three quarter time before a seven-goals-tonone onslaught by the Giants in the last.
In the end, five goals to Riley Lehmann and inspired play from midfielder Lou White and forward flanker Clint Burdett were not quite enough to drag the Giants across the line.
However, the team has established itself as a bonafide challenger for this season’s premiership and has an opportunity to get a win on the board when it takes on Nhill at Davis Park in round 14.
Horsham Saints will host Warrack Eagles in a Blue Ribbon match, supporting families of police who have died in the line of duty, at Coughlin Park.
Dimboola will test Horsham at Horsham City Oval and Stawell will travel to take on Minyip-murtoa in the round’s other matches.