James Murphy
NORTH GAMBIER 9.11 (65) d CASTERTON SANDFORD 5.13 (43)
IT took four quarters to shake off their rival but North Gambier claimed a 22-point win over a visiting Casterton Sandford on Saturday.
The Cats started strongly and led at the first change and half time, before the hosts hit back in the third term to claw back the lead.
From there the Tigers led for the remainder of the match, holding the Cats to only minor scores in the last to clinch the victory.
North was slow out of the gates, failing to convert its opportunities in the opening term.
As such it had just four minor scores at the change, while the Cats scored two-goals-four to hold a handy 12 point lead.
The Tigers found the big sticks in the second term and pushed their score out to 19, while the Cats also added two goals to maintain a 10-goal advantage at half time.
The third quarter was when North turned the game around.
Hitting the ground running the Tigers went on to bag five goals and two behinds, while the Cats faced conversion troubles of their own during that time.
They slotted one goal and four minor scores, leaving them six points down at the final change.
Unfortunately for the Victorians, the upset they had been searching for in recent rounds again remained elusive and they would not score another goal for the match.
A string of four behinds was all they could muster in the fourth quarter, while North added three goals to run away with a 22-point win.
Despite the result, it was another example of how close Casterton Sandford is to knocking over a top-four team and the breakthrough is sure to come at some stage in the season.
For North it was an important victory and one which has it hold a one-win buffer in third spot on the ladder.
The return of Sam Stafford to the fold was a welcome inclusion for the Tigers and he slotted back in seamlessly with a four-goal haul.
He top scored for the match, while young-gun Tyler Harris also had multiple goals for North with two.
The Cats looked to Ed Pritchard in front of the big sticks and he slotted two also, while the remaining goals of the day all came off separate boots.
Stafford earned a place in North’s best for his efforts, but it was some young Tigers who featured at the top of the performers.
Darcy Arthurson was named best on ground for the game and his performance was a continuation of impressive form shown at the South East Zone Regional Football Carnival the week prior.
Mackye Baron was also a part of the winning Limestone Coast Under 17.5 side at the carnival and he was second best for the Tigers on Saturday.
Dale Bachmann, Josh Jenner and Cameron Ortlepp also continued their red-hot form to earn a mention.
Casterton Sandford looked to Hamish McCrae on the day as the best on ground.
He was joined by Diarmid Cleary and Nick Schembri at the pointy end of the list, while Cory Wombwell, Dylan Ayton and Patrick Milich also featured.
Next week the Cats will look to rattle the Roos when they host West Gambier at Island Park, while North visits East Gambier in what should be an easier outing.
