Cats keep unbeaten record despite determined Tigers
Neerim-Neerim South have moved clear in top spot on the Ellinbank District football ladder, overcoming a determined Lang Lang to keep its undefeated record intact.
The Tigers took a narrow lead into half time and at stages looked the better side for the conditions, only for the Cats to show their class and kick away with a six goal second half to win 8-11 (59) to 5-8 (38).
The Cats were made to work had early as Chris Urie pushed as high as the wing to get his hands on the ball. He soon had an opportunity closer to goal, but his shot missed.
Lang Lang went straight through the middle on the kick in and gained territory. The Tigers set up well behind the ball to allow for repeat entries, but the Cats were able to hold up strong in defence.
A pinpoint pass to Daniel Nicholls came off despite a diving attempt to spoil from Kody Wilson. He and Dean Stringer showed good desperation and drive around the ground.
The Cats again went forward but wind was playing havoc with accuracy as kick missed Luke Kinder on the lead.
Urie made a snap on goal with Lang Lang players appealing the ball had been already out of bounds, the decision going in their favour.
The Cats broke through for the first goal late in the term as Kinder made a good run from the wing and finished off his work.
The Tigers hit back early in the second term, Jesse Hand stealing it from a short throw in to find Sean Dwyer for a goal.
The Cats sent the ball deep and converted from the pack as the lead changed again.
The goal for goal nature of the contest continued, the Cats appealing touched for a snapped shot on goal to no avail as the Tigers went into half time with a six-point lead.
The home side scored a long goal as conditions cleared to open the second half in ominous signs for the Cats.
However it stirred a response, as the visitors would put through six of the final seven goals for a comfortable victory.
It turned at the mid-point of the third term as a snap from Tom Gill went high in the air. The Tigers defence attempted to clear, brushing off a tackle only to be caught by Declan Bagot.
Some good follow up work from Gill saw the Cats snap truly from the advantage for a much-needed goal.
Urie found Bambridge on the lead to put the Cats back in front, the Cats then taking it the length of the field from a set shot miss at the other end to find Bambridge on the end of another one.
The Cats had begun to find their range, opening the final term with a long goal and soon added another.
A long shot from Ben Barwick evaded the chasing Cats defence to bring some life back into the contest, only to see an immediate response to see the visitor seal the result.
Wilson led the response for the Cats, with other contributors being Tyssen Morrow, Alexander Johnston, Nathan Bayne, Cooper Clancy and Christopher Charles.
Fighting hard to keep the Tigers in the contest were Bradley Ventura, Joshua Brown, Brad Harding, Barwick, Joseph Dalgleish and Brett Coghill.