Benjamin Millar
Bacchus Marsh has bounced back from its heavy loss to North Ballarat to clinch a hard-fought four-point win over Lake Wendouree in the Ballarat Football League.
The Cobras took a two-goal lead into the first break and were still 12 points up at quarter time, before the gap was cut to just six at the final break.
More accurate kicking in front of goal helped Bacchus Marsh take the four points at the final siren with a gutsy 10.7(67) to 8.15(63) win.
Captain Jake Owen bagged five goals to take his tally for the season to 24, Billy Griffiths slotted two majors and Tom German, Kian Dickson and Rylan Porter all contributed with a goal apiece.
The win sees the Cobras hang on to sixth place on the ladder with 16 points – equal to third place East Point with a game in hand.
Playing coach Tom German said it was good to get back to a win after the 71-point loss to in-form ladder leaders North Ballarat the week prior.
“It was a very close game, they certainly came prepared and they had a very good game themselves and they moved the ball around very well,” he said.
“We were happy to get away with the four points this time, we’ve had a couple of games where we’ve had three quarter lead and not finished with the win.”
German said the team is starting to return to match fitness after a lengthy break from the field due to Victoria’s snap lockdown and the bye.
“Having four or five weeks off the field isn’t great, while the guys kept fit and we monitored everyone there’s no substitute for match fitness,” he said.
“We all knew heading into this season it could be a compromised season though so every game we get to play is a bonus, it’s nice to have some normalcy back.”
German was also heartened to see the team gelling well and delivering the ball into the forward line.
“We had our small forwards starting to get into the game well and we had our captain kick a bag of goals which was good,” he said.
With only one game separating third and tenth place on the ladder, German said it was essential to take wins in the close-fought games.
“It’s the most even competition that I’ve come across; it’s good for the league and good for the supports that you can go to a game and either side can win,” he said.
In other games Ballarat (19.13-127) were too strong for Melton South [8.4(52)], East Point [17.15(117)] kept Darley [4.5(29)] winless and ladder-leaders North Ballarat [11.5(71)] overcame second-placed rivals Melton [7.9(51)].
This Saturday sees Darley travel to Lake Wendouree, Melton host Ballarat at MacPherson Park, Bacchus Marsh host Sebastopol at Maddingley Park and Melton South host North Ballarat at Melton Recreation Reserve.
