In heavy conditions after the VFL game at AUSTAR Arena on Saturday the North Ballarat Rebels managed to hang on to defeat the Western Jets in their Round 16 TAC Cup game.
Goals in the opening minutes to Christopher Giampaolo and Matthew Cranage for North Ballarat were the result of strong play in the centre of the ground from Jordan Roughead and Nicholas Suban as both sides tried to adapt to the heavy conditions.
The Jets were without a number of key players but responded and it was goal for goal for the rest of the opening term which ended with a second to Cranage from a free right on the siren.
The second was a term of two halves as the big Western forwards added three goals to put them in front and looking threatening until the thirteen minute mark when Ned Gilbert, Andrew Hooper and Cranage replied to steady the Rebels and go into the long break with a handy thirteen point lead in the conditions.
The third quarter was a dour struggle as both defences were on top and it was Oliver Tate across half back, Ryan McKenzie on ball and Roughead that held steady and restricted the Jets to one goal despite having plenty of the play in their forward area.
North Ballarat could only manage one as well which came from a Taite Radley mark.
Will Young rotating between half forward and half back marked strongly and goaled early in the final quarter but Western were quick to reply as both sides realized the game was still there to be won.
Bryn Weadon shifted into the centre pushed forward to mark and goal and extend the lead but again the Jets had plenty of the ball in their forward area but could only manage one goal from a number of shots as the home side defended grimly over the final minutes of the game to run out winners by eleven points.
Next week weather and ground conditions permitting the Rebels play the Geelong Falcons as a curtain raiser to the AFL match between Geelong and North Melbourne at Skilled Stadium on Sunday in a great opportunity for the boys to play a quality side in front of a big crowd before the finals series just a few weeks away.
North Ballarat Rebels 11.7 (73) d Western Jets 9.8 (62)
Best: Ned Gilbert, Jordan Roughead, Andrew Hooper, Matthew Cranage, Ryan McKenzie, Oliver Tate.
Goals: Matthew Cranage 3, Taite Radley 2, Will Young 2, Christopher Giampaolo 1, Ned Gilbert 1, Andrew Hooper 1, Bryn Weadon 1.
Last Modified on 08/02/2009 15:29