By Dejan Kalinic
North Ballarat has ended its three-game losing run with a hard-fought 21-point win over Williamstown on Saturday.
The Roosters overran Williamstown in the final term, kicking four goals in a 10-minute period to win 14.14.(98) to 11.11.(77).
Full-forward Aaron Edwards kicked four goals and he was ably supported by a number of other North Melbourne-listed players, including the dropped David Hale.
It was Edwards who was prominent early, kicking the first two goals of the game and presenting strongly to a slick Roosters outfit.
Seagulls captain Brett Johnson kicked his side’s first goal at the 12-minute mark as North Ballarat held a 13-point quarter-time lead.
Williamstown began to work its way into the game in the second term and could have been closer than 17 points at the main change.
Patrick Rose was becoming damaging after a quiet start, but he and Dean Galea both missed late chances in the second term.
The Seagulls came at North Ballarat in the third term but when Nick Peters kicked a goal at the 16-minute mark of the quarter, the Roosters led by 21 points.
But David Stretton, Dylan Joyce and Johnson’s second in the space of three minutes set up a tight final term.
Rose and Galea both kicked majors early in the last to bring scores level at the five-minute mark.
But Michael Wundke, Peters and two from Edwards in a 10-minute patch saw the Roosters home.
After three consecutive losses, it was a much-needed win for North Ballarat with finals on the horizon.
Edwards was dominant up forward, while the hard work of North Melbourne-listed players Hale in the middle and Shannon Watt from defence was valuable.
The Seagulls have lost two consecutive games and have next week off.
Skipper Johnson, Rose and Wayde Skipper all continued their impressive seasons.
North Ballarat 3.5 6.6 10.10 14.14 (98)
| Williamstown 1.4 3.7 8.11 11.11 (77)
GOALS:North Ballarat: Edwards 4 Peters 2 Hale Smith Driscoll McHugh Wundke George McMahon Clifton
Williamstown: Rose 3 Johnson 2 Cloke Joyce Galea O'Keefe Skipper Stretton
BEST:North Ballarat: Smith Edwards Searl Garlett Clifton Watt
Williamstown: Johnson O'Keefe Jolley Wood Rose Skipper
Last Modified on 03/08/2009 11:54