Benjamin Millar
Melton has kept its minor premiership hopes alive with a strong performance to overcome Lake Wendouree in the Ballarat Football Netball League.
The in-form Bloods chalked up back-to-back wins in the MacPherson Park clash on Saturday, powering home to emerge 14.13(97) to 6.5(41) victors in a mostly one-sided affair.
Melton blasted out of the blocks to take a commanding 28 points to 8 lead into the first quarter and cruised to a 53-22 half-time lead.
Kicking was a little wayward in the third quarter for the Bloods with two goals and six behinds, but Lake Wendouree was unable to capitalise and could only add seven minors of their own.
A four-goal final quarter for Melton saw them home easily in the end with a comfortable 56-point winning margin.
Kevin Klix led from the front with four goals, Luke Heaney slotted home three and Ryan Carter and Braeden Kight kicked two majors apiece.
With just two losses from nine starts Melton now sits just one win behind league leaders North Ballarat and two wins clear of East Point, Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh and Redan.
Meanwhile Redan (9.18(72)) overcame Darley (7.13(55)) at City Oval to keep the unlucky Devils winless.
Darley sat within 10 points at the first break and were still within striking distance at half-time down 57-34, but Redan pushed the lead out to 24 at three-quarter time.
The hosts managed just five behinds in the final term but it was enough to hold off the visitors who kicked one goal and six minors to fall short by 17 at the siren.
Will Johnson was again looking good for Darley in just his fourth match for the seniors, leading the way with two goals.
At Clarke Oval Sunbury (11.10(76)) held on to win against Bacchus Marsh (9.9(63)) in one of the round’s closest fought tussles.
The home side took a two point advantage into the first quarter, but a Cobras surge put the visitors into the main break with a five point lead.
The Lions then roared into the third term with a three goal to one effort and backed it up with another three goals in the final quarter to secure the 13-point win.
Ryley Stuhldreier and Thomas Wardell kicked three apiece and Jaidyn Owen kicked a couple, but Alex Schwarzenberg was the only other player to pick up a major.
East Point put on a dominant display at Melton Recreation Reserve, finishing with 26.10(166) to convincingly beat Melton South 13.4(82).
Jacob Thornton-Gielen bagged five goals, Dylan Conway chimed in with and Shawn White add a handy two, but they were blasted out of the park thanks to a remarkable 17-goal clinic by East Point’s Joel Ottavi.
Round 11 clashes this Saturday include Darley hosting league leaders North Ballarat at Darley Park, Melton travel to Maddingley Park to take on Bacchus Marsh and Sebastopol host Melton South at Marty Busch Reserve.
