MELTON South could not match North Ballarat City’s rucks or backline in an 84-point hiding on Saturday.
Despite a big winning margin of 18.17 (125) to 6.5 (41), the game did even up somewhat in the second and third quarters.
Although the Panthers still suffered a 28-point deficit at half-time, their performance in the middle of the game was much more involved than the first quarter.
North City dominated from the first bounce, and continued to do so throughout the first quarter led by ruckman Tristan Cartledge.
Melton South, however, struggled to get a grip on the ball, going scoreless to quarter-time.
Jake Hicks kicked North’s first goal six minutes into the game, and from that moment the home team’s pressure remained tight as their goals kept rolling in. In the second quarter, the Panthers were a lot tighter, exchanging three goals with North. Their sudden surge of team effort gave them even second quarter of football, and the game looked a little less gloomy for the visitors by half-time.
Melton South continued to play well, particularly with Anthony Cristofaro kicking a superb snapshot goal from the pocket one minute into the third quarter.
This was followed by some straight shooting by Dion Lawson and Simon Collis.
Despite Melton’s best efforts, it was evident that North City still controlled the game.
The Panthers soon found themselves unable to penetrate City’s defence line.
Late in the third quarter, North City kicked clear to open up a handy seven-goal lead.
North Ballarat City did as it liked in the final term and ended with a 14-goal victory.
The landslide came about through concentrated pressure and strategic play, plus a series of final-quarter goalkicking by Michael Williams, Tristan Cartledge, Shaun Lyle and Tyler George. Sutton ended the match as the Panthers’ only multiple goalkicker, while Doug Thomas and Michael Callus were better players in the losing cause.
– Ballarat Courier
