GEELONG Rangers returned to the top of the GRFC Men’s Division One standings courtesy of a hard fought 2-1 victory over cellar dwellers Breakwater Eagles in Round 16 action last weekend.

Ben Noble continued his rich scoring form of late with yet another strike, while Michael Opperman scored the other goal, ensuring the Rangers leapfrogged Surfside Waves - who had an enforced week off due to the bye – into top spot on the ladder.

Barwon SC Red also managed to overtake the luckless Waves, annihilating Corio SC 8-1 at Hume Reserve to leap into second spot and send the northern suburbs club crashing to the foot of the ladder.

Sean Mahon scored a brace to move to second on the Division One Goalscorers’ chart, bringing his season’s tally to 10 goals. The other goalscorers for Barwon included Thomas Newberry, Ashley Dafter (2), James Liddle, Jamie Monteith and Hayden Williams.

Current Division One Golden Boot, Louis Stockman from Drysdale SC, netted his 12^th of the season as the Hawks ran out 2-1 winners over Deakin Ducks in a thriller at Howard Glover Reserve on Sunday. The other goal for Drysdale was an own goal, while Mitchell Reid-Skalic was the lone scorer for the Students.

The win sees Drysdale swap ladder positions with the previously 4^th placed Deakin. The Ducks now find themselves three points off a Finals’ spot with just two rounds remaining.

DIVISION TWO:

The top two teams in Division Two both suffered unexpected defeats, while the 3^rd and 4^th placed teams consolidated their spots in the Top Four following the completion of Round 16 action last weekend.

Third placed Lara SC recorded an impressive 3-1 win over competition leaders Surf Coast FC at Lara Recreation Reserve on Sunday. Dale Walker bagged a double and Jordan Roberston hit the back of the next for the Cats, while Mitchell Rutherford scored the Coasters’ solitary goal.

A short distance away in Lara West, 4^th placed Bellarine Sharks destroyed the Elcho Park Cardinals six goals to nil to maintain a three point buffer from the 5^th placed Deakin Ducks. Andrew Longo and David Sanzaro both scored a double for the Sharks, while Anthony Tavic and Lachlan Campbell scored one apiece.

The Ducks, meanwhile, kept their Finals’ hopes alive by causing an upset and defeating second placed Barwon Heads 2-1 at Village Park in Barwon Heads.

Mohammed Elfard and Sam McClintock were the scorers for the victors, while Division Two’s leading goalscorer, Robert Armstrong scored the only goal for the home side to bring his season’s tally to 19 strikes.

DIVISION THREE:

CORIO Bay Blue extended its lead at the top of Division Three to four points, following a closely fought 2-1 win over Geelong SC in an enthralling top-of-the-table clash at Stead Park on Sunday.

Third placed Deakin Ducks Green, meanwhile, closed the gap between itself and the second placed Geelong to just three points, courtesy of a 3-2 win over Barwon White.

Barwon’s loss to the Ducks has allowed Surfside Waves White to slip into 4^th spot, following their valuable 4-3 away win over Lara SC, who in turn drop a position to 8^th on the standings.

PHOTO: Action from the Rangers-Breakwater Division One game last Sunday (Photo: Karen van der Chys)