SURFSIDE Waves have managed to maintain top spot on the ladder ahead of Rangers, who are hot on their heels in second spot, following the completion of Round 15 in the GRFC Men’s Division One competition on the weekend.

The Waves hosted their 'bogey' team, bottom side Breakwater Eagles, at Shell Road Reserve on Friday night and were looking to build on their impressive win against the Rangers a week earlier.

Surfside were slow off the blocks, allowing Breakwater to create the first scoring chance of the game, which was superbly saved by Roscoe Holmes.

This prompted the home side into action and the Waves soon found themselves awarded a penalty after some great work from captain Aaron Bond. The penalty was cooly converted by Bond himself and from there on Surfside began to take control of the game.

Jack Pedler doubled the lead soon afterwards with a moment of individual brilliance. Surfside finished eventual 5-1 victors, with Pedler scoring a hat trick and Gabe McClelland adding the 5th.

A Ben Noble double and an own goal helped second placed Rangers stay within striking distance of the leaders, as the Dark Blues ran out comfortable 3-1 winners over second last placed Corio SC at Myers Reserve on Sunday.

The win for Rangers means they are just one point behind the Waves, with just three rounds to go of the regular season.

The positive result against their northern neighbours took on even more significance for the Dark Blues, with the Waves taking an enforced break this coming weekend as a result of the bye. The Rangers, meanwhile, will be expected to win in their clash with bottom side Breakwater.

In the other Division One game last weekend, a Sean Mahon goal was the only difference between the two sides as Barwon took all three points in the clash with Drysdale, allowing the Grovedale side to leapfrog Deakin Ducks - who had the bye - into third spot on the ladder.

DIVISION TWO:

The top two sides, Surf Coast FC and Barwon Heads SC, easily accounted for their respective opponents in Round 15 action of the Men’s Division Two last weekend.

League leaders Surf Coast FC defeated 9^th placed Drysdale SC 2-0 at Banyul Warri Reserve on Friday night, while the Division’s leading goalscorer Robert Armstrong was the star of the show in Barwon Heads’ 5-1 thumping of 7^th placed Barwon Blue. Armstrong netted a hat-trick, to take his season’s tally to 18 goals.

Lara SC has jumped into third spot on the Division Two ladder, following a commanding 3-1 win over bottom side Breakwater Eagles at the White Eagle House on Sunday.

The Deakin Ducks are the big losers after last weekend’s round of matches. After losing to Bellarine Sharks 0-1 on Sunday at St Leonards, the Ducks have dropped from 3^rd to 5^th spot on the ladder. The Sharks, meanwhile, have jumped from 5^th to 4^th on equal points with Lara but with an inferior goal difference

DIVISION THREE:

Following the completion of Round 15 matches last weekend, a new leader has ascended to the throne in what is shaping up as an enthralling battle for the minor premiership in Division Three.

Corio Bay Blue has overtaken the previous leader Geelong SC at the top of the standings, courtesy of a 9-1 thumping of lowly Drysdale SC at Howard Glover Reserve on Sunday.

Across town, at Stead Park, the previous top dog, Geelong SC, was held to an upset 1-1 draw by 6^th placed Lara SC in the ‘northern suburbs derby’.

Barwon White, meanwhile, cemented its spot in the top four with a hard fought 3-2 win over Surfside Waves at Grovedale Reserve.

With just three rounds of the regular season remaining, Corio Bay Blue leads the competition with 36 points, just one ahead of second placed Geelong SC. Deakin Ducks is in third spot with 29 points, followed by Barwon White on 28 points, who are two ahead of 5^th placed Surfside Waves White.

PHOTO: Jack Peddler scored a hat-trick as Surfside Waves demolished Breakwater Eagles 5-1 last weekend (Photo: Patrick Callow)