By Daniel Dufty
In a major statement to the rest of the VFL, five last quarter goals from Box Hill saw it outmuscle reigning premier North Ballarat by 14 points.
The impressive home win clinched the Box Hill Hawks its seventh victory for the season.
Wind at the Whitehorse Road end at Box Hill City Oval brought a 3-4 goal advantage which Box Hill used effectively in the final term.
Tightly contested with a 16-point lead into the final change, North Ballarat lead from the opening change looked inevitable with victory.
Deifying the odds, Box Hill placed its foot on the accelerator with Adem Yze placing through 2 final term goals as North Ballarat crumbled.
Brendon Bolton praised his players’ efforts “Every player on the ground played their role.”
“It was a huge effort against a quality outfit we have a great amount of respect for.”
North Ballarat broke the match open with the opening two goals to Jacob Spolding and Bill Driscoll.
With possession shared evenly the Hawks continued to say in contention with a sparkling goal by Cameron Pedersen in the 19th minute.
Trailing by 11 points at the 1st change, Box Hill had their hands full with early 2nd term goals to North Ballarat’s Tristan Cartledge and Bill Driscoll.
Moving back the margin, goals to Pedersen and Stokes in a minute gave the Hawks some much needed momentum.
Restriction of North Ballarat’s scoring in the 3rd saw Box Hill kick 2.3 to North Ballarat’s 1.3.
A goal by Co-Captain Steve Kenna just before the third term siren loomed Box Hill in with a sniff.
Breaking the Roosters backs, Box Hill with great belief pulled back the 16 point three quarter time deficit to record their best victory in years.
Hawthorn ruckman Max Bailey 34 hitouts in his 2nd hit out since injury dominated the ruck with Brent Renouf 23 hitouts.
Hawks recruit Shane Savage 26 disposals showed great poise and run through the middle again in Box Hill’s best.
Cameron Stokes 3 goals showed blistering pace up forward with great ability to break tackles and style delivering the Hawks victory.
Apart from the Hawks 2nd term, everything else pleased Bolton.
Box Hill’s Sam Iles led again in the middle with 32 disposals while Cameron Pedersen 28, 2 goals again showed his value.
For North Ballarat Tom Roach, Brett Goodes and Ed Lower were the Roosters best.
Bill Driscoll kicking 3 goals up forward was always dangerous against the Hawks defence.
Box Hill breaks North Ballarat’s nine game winning streak while it is the first time they’ve beaten the side since Round 8 2006.
Taking the scalp of last years VFL Premiers itself is no easy task.
Box Hill moves to 6th position on the ladder with top placed Williamstown as its next opponent.
North Ballarat is also on the road again against the Northern Bullants at Visy Park in Round 14.
Box Hill Hawks: 2.4 / 4.7 / 6.10 / 11.16.82
North Ballarat: 4.3 / 8.5 / 9.8 / 10.8.68
Box Hill Hawks Goals: C. Stokes 3, B. Smithwick 2, A. Yze 2, C. Pedersen 2, B. Renouf, S. Kenna
Best: S. Iles, S. Savage, R. Schoenmakers, C. Stokes, C. Pedersen, B. Renouf
North Ballarat Goals: B. Driscoll 3, J. Spolding 2, J. Smith, C. Garlett, T. Roach, C. Richardson, T. Cartledge
Best: T. Roach, B. Goodes, E. Lower, S. Clifton, M. Sewell, M. Searl
Last Modified on 14/07/2009 11:43