By ASH BOLT - Under-19 Division 1
WERRIBEE Districts have finished the 2016 season in top spot after beating Deer Park by 25-points at Avalon Airport Oval.
The match got off to a slow start as both teams were fighting hard for top spot, but it was the Tigers who took their chances early to hold a 12-point lead at quarter-time.
It took until 12 minutes into the second term for Deer Park to finally get a goal on the scoreboard, but Werribee Districts were quick to reply at the other end and booted four goals in the next eight minutes to take a commanding 37-point lead at half-time.
Deer Park’s struggles continued into the third quarter as the Tigers’ defence was strong and stopped everything that came their way.
Three goals for Werribee Districts took the margin out to nine goals before a goal on the siren from Mark Galea dragged it back to 48-points.
Having kicked only two goals to three quarter time, Deer Park came out with something to prove in the final term as they held Werribee Districts to a single point, but poor kicking meant that they kicked just three goals from nine shots and ultimately lose by 25-points.
The win should give Werribee Districts confidence when the two teams meet again in the semi-final this week at Avalon Airport Oval, with the winner going straight into the Grand Final.
Werribee Districts’ Benjamin McMahon was the standout of the match with several strong intercept marks in the backline.
Blake Taylor also played well, finishing with two goals for the Tigers while Mark Galea kicked two goals for Deer Park.
Altona claimed their spot in the finals with a 45-point win over wooden-spooners Spotswood at Burbank Oval.
The Vikings needed a win to take fourth spot on the ladder and were in for a battle early as they could muster just a two point lead at the first break.
Altona took advantage in the second and third terms, restricting Spotswood to just three behinds, while a five goal final quarter meant the Vikings claimed a comfortable 54-point win.
The Vikings’ win means Yarraville Seddon misses out on a finals spot on percentage as both teams finished the season with seven wins.
Altona kick off their finals campaign with a do-or-die semi-final at Burbank Oval on Sunday against a Hoppers Crossing team coming off a bye.
Suren Bowala and Jack Reynolds kicked three goals apiece for the Vikings while Adam Kaddour kicked two of Spotswood’s four goals.
Last Modified on 22/08/2016 13:21