Big win for the Burra

SEBASTOPOL playing coach Tony Lockyer has declared consistency as the key to the Burra fulfilling its hopes of further rising up the BFNL ladder.

Intent on having a much-improved second half of the season, the Burra notched up the biggest of their three victories to date this season against Ballarat last Saturday at Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

They led at every change, including 30 points at half-time, on their way to a 36-point win.

The Burra remains four points behind sixth-placed Bacchus Marsh and a further two points behind fifth-placed Ballarat in the hunt for a finals berth.

While a tough battle against East Point looms this weekend, Lockyer could not help but be impressed by the effort against the Swans.

“There’s still a ways to go yet, but hopefully we can keep climbing up,” he said.

“It was good to get another win on the board against a team that is around us.

“I was happy with probably three quarters of it. The third quarter, we just went away from our method.

“But I was just really pleased for the boys to respond after a disappointing game against North the week before.

“We just didn’t execute at all.

“It was a disappointing day, but the boys really went to work and were rewarded this week for the effort.”

The Burra benefited from big performances by Toby Hutt in the ruck, Adam Forbes (two goals), Jack Bambury, Lachlan Cassidy and Ben Hutt.

Cooper Littlehales was again lively, emerging with his second three-goal haul for the season.

Lockyer praised his team’s defensive pressure and insisted the win was built on the contributions of all 22 players.

“I was very impressed with our defence – we really stifled their ball movement,” he said.

Lockyer conceded that if the Burra were to realise their aim of playing finals, they would need to beat the teams around them, currently Bacchus Marsh, North Ballarat and Redan, and likely claim another top six scalp.

“We know our best has been good enough throughout the year to challenge those good sides,” he said.

“It really comes down to consistency and striving for that.

“Hopefully we’ll get some cattle back over the next few weeks and launch into the second half of the year.”

They will get an immediate crack at a genuine premiership contender at home this weekend against East Point.

The Burra impressed against the Kangaroos in round one, coming from 32 points down at three-quarter time to seriously threaten them, before going down by 16 points.

Lockyer insists the Burra have nothing to fear.

“We’ve had some good battles over the years and had a good battle against them in round one,” he said.

“We nearly came over the top of them. Hopefully we can give it a shake this week.”

A crucial batch of round 11 matches is headlined by the top-of-the-ladder clash between Darley and Melton, which will enter the contest with matching 9-1 records.

The Devils held top spot with a hard-fought eight-point win over fourth-placed Sunbury, while the Bloods easily took care of bottom side Lake Wendouree.

The clash between North Ballarat and Ballarat at Mars Stadium shapes as a must-win for both, with the Swans and Roosters both coming off disappointing losses.

North Ballarat slipped to seventh following its 78-point loss to East Point, but could go as high as fifth with a win over the Swans.

The Swans and Roosters played out a draw in round one.

Round 10 recap: Sunbury 11.4 (70) lost to Darley 11.12 (78); Bacchus Marsh 11.13 (79) defeated Redan 7.14 (56); Ballarat 5.8 (38) lost to Sebastopol 10.14 (74); Melton 19.12 (126) defeated Lake Wendouree 4.5 (29); East Point 17.16 (118) defeated North Ballarat 5.10 (40).

Round 11: Darley v Melton; Lake Wendouree v Bacchus Marsh; North Ballarat v Ballarat; Redan v Sunbury; Sebastopol v East Point.