By Lachlan Onions
HATHERLEIGH 9.6 (60) d MOUNT BURR 7.4 (46)
HATHERLEIGH took the sting out of the Mozzies as it claimed a hard-fought four points at home in Round 5 of Mid South Eastern football on Saturday.
Mount Burr took the ascendancy early as it maintained the majority of possession and territory in the first quarter.
However, the Eagles were strong in defence and made the visitors work for every goal they kicked.
The visitors went into the first break with a 19-7 lead but the hosts soon fought back.
The Mozzies managed to score just seven points in the second quarter, while the Eagles kicked 2.2 (14) to reduced the margin to just five points at the main break.
It was the third quarter where the game began to open up as Hatherleigh held Mount Burr to one major, while they added three of their own to head into three-quarter-time with a 41-34 lead.
From there, the Eagles withstood the storm from the Mozzies and kicked three goals to hang on for a 14-point win.
Max and Jed Telfer led the way for the Eagles and were their two best players for the day while William Chay also impressed.
In the forward line, Patrick Chay was a game-changer in an otherwise low-scoring contest.
Chay finished the day with a bag of five goals, while no one else in his team managed to kick more than one.
For Mount Burr, Dylan Ridley led from the front and was best on ground, while Rhys Gamble also impressed.
It was another strong performance from young ruckman Calum Sparkes who was third-best for the Mozzies.
Thomas Hales and Jack Gregory both scored two goals each for the away side while Andrew Ridley, Sparkes and Josh Wallis all kicked one goal each.
Hatherleigh’ workman-like win moves the Eagles to fifth on the ladder with eight points from four games.
The Mozzies have now dropped down to fourth on the ladder with 12 points from five games.
