The North Ballarat Rebels remain within striking distance of the TAC Cup top eight after a convincing 46 point victory over Bendigo at the Northern Oval on Sunday.
Played in heavy conditions and with both sides missing key players due to representative commitments, the contest quickly turned into an old fashioned scrap.
With a strong wind blowing across the ground scoring was difficult resulting in just one goal apiece in the first quarter.
The Rebels slowly gained the ascendancy in the second term with small men Jake Dignan, Bill Driscoll, Liam Picken and Daniel Feery continuing to win the hard ball.
A goal just seconds before the half time siren from the boot of Brendan Huf gave the home team a 13 point lead which probably should have been greater if not for inaccuracy.
Just one goal was kicked for the third term as the Bendigo defence fought off countless Rebels attacks. Daniel Lovick and Martin Curtis were particularly prominent from the half back line. A 40 metre chase an tackle from Rebels utility Fred Saunders was a highlight of the quarter.
With a 21 point lead going into the final stanza, Rebels coach Anthony Rock implored his players not to be satisfied with the lead and to continue to attack.
That they did as the home team produced it's best quarter of football for the game in kicking 3 goals 8 to Bendigo's solitary behind. A 46 point winning margin was a deserved result for North Ballarat and signified the first time this season the team has won 2 games on end.
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the win was the performance of the team's newer players. 16 year old Shaun Grigg was arguably best on ground from a wing while Glenn Phelps impressed more and more as the game went on. Chris Keilar, Matt Tyler and Hamish Jarrad all played their part.
The only concern for the Rebels coming out of the match was a knee injury to key position player Clint Ladiges. He is now in some doubt for the team's clash with Gipplsland at Morwell on Saturday.
Just one game outside the eight, the match shapes a must win game for the Rebels to keep their finals aspirations alive.
North Ballarat Rebels 8.18 .66 d Bendigo Pioneers 2.8.20
Goals: Huf 2, Keilar 2, Dignan 1, Driscoll 1, Ewing 1, Picken 1.
Best: Grigg, Feery, Lovick, Driscoll, Curtis, Huf.
Last Modified on 08/02/2009 14:08