A blistering seven goal to one second term has helped the Northern Blues to a 44-point win over North Ballarat at Visy Park on Saturday. The win jumped the Blues back into the Peter Jackson VFL top four as they enter their first bye for the season, as Alexander McLeman reports.
A lack lustre first quarter that produced only two goals gave no indications of the goal onslaught that was to come from the Blues in the second term.
Trailing by a point, the second quarter began at warp speed, with the Blues scoring three successive goals from Myles Dorman, Kane Lambert and Jeremy Laidler to take a 17 point early second quarter lead. The Roosters grabbed a goal back from James Keeble but the Blues answered with a further three of their own from Tom Wilson, Frazer Dale and Dorman to take complete control of the match with a 35-point half-time lead.
Following the seven goal quarter from the Blues they came out after half-time picking up where they left off with two quick goals from Jeremy Laidler and Tim Lincoln, heaping more misery on the travelling Roosters. The Roosters did turn-up the tempo slightly in the third quarter, limiting the Blues possession while defending resiliently to keep them pinned back. The Roosters bagged goals from Lucas Cook and Luke Delaney to peg-back the Blues but the men from Ballarat were still facing an up-hill battle as the quarter finished with the Blues in the lead by 46 points.
The fourth quarter was all about tightening up and doing the basics right for the Blues as they limited the Roosters to one goal from James Keeble while scoring two of their own to finish the game off 44-point victors.
Kane Lambert was the standout for the Northern Blues in the middle with three goals and 32 disposals, with Shaun Hampson providing first use of the ball with over 60 hitouts.
The Blues did the job and took home the points, climbing up to 3rd on the ladder (four points behind Geelong) while North Ballarat find themselves stuck at 9th position four points behinds Collingwood who sit at 8th and 12 points behind ladder leaders Geelong.
Next up for the Blues after the bye is Collingwood in the ABC TV game, whilst North Ballarat take on the Box Hill Hawks at Eureka Stadium this Saturday.
Last Modified on 20/05/2013 17:01