Catani reserves have reason to smile
CATANI may have been in the football doldrums in recent times, but they now have some reason to smile with its reserves side winning a dour affair to displace its rivals in the top five.
The Blues and Trafalgar entered the contest among a scramble of mid-pack teams that had squared the ledger across the opening two rounds.
With a spot in the top five there for the taking, it was the Blues who would prevail in a low scoring affair, 6-5 (41) to 4-6 (30).
Catani set up victory in the first half, kicking four goals while keeping the Bloods to just four behinds.
Trafalgar mounted a challenge in the third term, reducing the margin to just five points at the final change.
The Blues were able to steady, adding two goals to one in the final term to collect the points.
Nathaniel Rodda, Nicholas Cullen, Wade Haysom, Daniel Kelly, Brad Adams and Riley Miller helped the Blues hold firm.
Brett Cameron, Jackson Noonan, Zack Brown, Brady Heywood, Owen Zimora and Tai Langan led the challenge from Trafalgar.
LONGWARRY answered the challenge from Buln Buln, kicking away in the final quarter to win 13-9 (87) to 9-8 (62).
With nothing in it to three-quarter-time, the Crows booted four goals to one in the final term to hold firm in a spirited contest.
Zach Murphy, Dom Pullen, Ned Bain, Paul Williams, Aidan Fox and Bradley Yeo led the home side to victory.
Brody Hamilton, Jared Lane, Simon Dawson, Ricky McKerrow, Brody Pritchard and Bryce Monahan were the better players in a Buln Buln side that challenged to the end.
OTHER matches were one-sided affairs that saw triple figure margins, Lang Lang accounting for Nilma-Darnum 21-14 (140) to 1-0 (6).
Geordie Wells booted five goals in the big win, Lachlan Trudgeon, Jesse Hand, Bryce Fraser, Nathan Perkins and Daniel Makepeace also among the best.
The Bombers were best served by Christopher Demicoli, Aaron Maynard, Lochie Shaw, Justin Dessent, Thomas Hardiman and Matt Cheyne.
ELLINBANK and Neerim-Neerim South kept their opposition goalless.
Ellinbank defeated Nyora 19-12 (126) to 0-3 (3), while Neerim-Neerim South accounted for Poowong 23-13 (151) to 0-2 (2).
Fletcher Robinson-Edgar booted five goals for the Cats with Aaron Mitchell, Rhys George, Mitchell Sayburn, Samuel Fusinato and Samuel Edwards also contributing.
Poowong's better players were Harrison Sheedy, Daniel McDonald, Micah Williames, Tyran Lord and Rhys Butler.
Leading Ellinbank to its big win were Ryan Parsons, Sam Barwick, David Miller, Alex Olsen, Jake Dean, Nicholas Pratt.
Nyora were best served by Jarred Pearsall, Gavin Doig, Shaun Lamb, Ben Pugh and Matt Layton.