Lakers hang tough to resist Cobras

IT wasn’t exactly pretty, but in the end Lake Wendouree coach Courtney McLean was happy her side found a way to win against Bacchus Marsh last Saturday.

The Lakers overcame an ordinary first two-and-a-bit quarters to eventually hit their straps for a hard-fought five-goal victory over a persistent Cobras.

While it was far from their best win, it was a crucial one.

Combined with Redan’s 26-point loss to top-of-the-ladder Sunbury, the win gave the Lakers (7-3-1) some breathing space in fourth spot, six points clear of both Redan and Bacchus Marsh.

Harbouring top three aspirations, only two points separates the Lakers and third-placed North Ballarat, which notched up its eighth win of the season with a 39-goal victory over Ballarat.

Fully made to earn it by an in-form Bacchus Marsh, bristling with confidence following a statement-making win over Redan, McLean was pleased to see her side find a way through the contest, after coughing up a one-goal lead at quarter-time to be down by three at half-time, and on level terms at the final change of ends.

“It was an ordinary first half-and-a-bit. Our passes were terrible – we gave a lot of the ball away,” a candid McLean said.

“I’m not sure what it was, maybe some players stepping up to pull everyone through.”

Typically, our third quarters aren’t great, but we had a very good end to the third to get us back level and set us up with a chance. “A couple of changes worked for us.”

Illustrating their fluctuating fortunes, McLean said the Lakers had committed seven bad passes in the first quarter, compared with only two in the final term.

“I thought our defenders were a bit more impactful when it mattered,” she said.

“When that happens, we can hold onto the ball a bit more and score.

“It really was an important win. Well, every win is important from now.

“Bacchus Marsh is a really good side – their shooters (Kimberly Phillips and Jasmine Paama) are very accurate and hard to stop. Very clever.

“I can see them causing some upsets come finals.”

The final margin was nearly identical to that in the Lakers’ and Cobras’ first meeting this season, won by Lake Wendouree by six goals.

For the Lakers, centre Bella Clark starred in her 150th game and made few errors, while teenager Audrey Domaille shone in defence.

“Audrey’s skills are just so clean and she is deceivingly strong,” McLean said of the 16-year-old, who was last week named as a training partner in the First Nations state team.

The road ahead sees the Lakers take on Sebastopol and Ballarat following this weekend’s break, before a run of four straight games against top-six opponents, starting with Darley.

They will encounter an improving Sebastopol, which broke through for its third and biggest win of the year over East Point last Saturday.

A 12-goal loss put a severe dent in the finals hopes of the Kangaroos, who trail sixth-placed Bacchus Marsh by three wins and plenty of percentage with seven games remaining.

Encouragingly for the Lakers, they are anticipating the return of Mel Allen and Remi Hooper some time following the break.

McLean believed their coming run of games against Darley, North Ballarat, Sunbury and Redan, followed by the best team currently outside the top six East Point, would give them the ideal preparation for a tough finals series.

Another tough game looms on the horizon for Bacchus Marsh next weekend against North Ballarat.

Round 11 recap:

North Ballarat 77 defeated Ballarat 38; Redan 37 lost to Sunbury 63; Lake Wendouree 51 defeated Bacchus Marsh 46; Sebastopol 47 defeated East Point 35; Darley 62 defeated Melton 33.

Round 12 (July 12):

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