By Tara Murray
One of Melton South’s best performances of the Ballarat Football League season wasn’t enough for victory against the Sunbury Lions.
After a good start, a poor second quarter proved costly for the Panthers, who went from two goals up at quarter-time to five goals down at the main break.
With the lead in hand, the Lions did what was needed to secure a 16.14 (110)-8.9 (57) win.
Panthers coach Heath Pritchard said that despite the outcome, he was pleased with the performance.
“It was pretty good,” he said. “We were up at quarter-time. That second quarter let us down. The third we didn’t make the most of our opportunities with the wind.
“It was about 50 points at three-quarter time and it stayed around that mark.”
Pritchard said it was the sort of performance needed after their worst performance of the season against Ballarat.
He said had they played as they did on Saturday, they would have got the win against Ballarat.
“Against Melton the week prior and the effort against Sunbury, were both good efforts,” he said. “We’ve had moments, but we were turning in over. The execution has cost us and good sides make the most of that.
“We’ve been blown out of the water a few times, but we have expected that.”
Shaun White kicked three goals for the Panthers in the loss.
Pritchard said Jake and Will Thornton-Gielen were the stand-outs, along with Daniel Leggett and Dale Houghton.
He said Leggett was having a good season and was under-rated.
Bottom-placed Melton South will this week face Darley, with a bye to follow.
They will finish the season with a tough run of matches against Redan, Bacchus Marsh and North Ballarat City.
PHOTO GALLERY: Melton South vs Sunbury Lions
Pritchard said they were looking forward to this weekend. He said results in recent weeks had shown anyone can beat anyone.
“It will be a challenge,” he said. “They [Darley] smashed us earlier in the season and we have a point to prove, to see whether we have improved.
“It’s another good test to see where we are in our development.”
The Devils enter the match on the back of a disappointing loss against Sebastopol.
Scores were level at three-quarter time, before the Burras kicked away in the last quarter for a 13.12 (90)-6.15 (51) win. Leigh Spiteri kicked three goals for the Devils.
The Devils have lost their past two matches to slip down to third.
Bacchus Marsh suffered a shock loss to Ballarat to dent its finals hopes.
The Cobras had more scoring shots, but were made to pay for inaccuracy, losing 7.13 (55)-6.16 (52).
Jake Owen kicked four goals and was named the Cobras’ best.
The Cobras, who have a bye this weekend, are sitting in eighth position, two games outside the top six.
Melton, which is sixth, had a bye at the weekend.
