LAKE Wendouree have stamped themselves as serious premiership contenders after beating Sunbury for the first time in three years at C.E. Brown Reserve on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Lakers made third spot behind Darley and North Ballarat their own with a plucky 53-50 victory.<\/p>\n
It was also the Lakers’ first win over a top three opponent in years, with their last such win coming against Sunbury in the 2023 elimination final.<\/p>\n
They did, however, draw with eventual premiers Darley in round 4 of last season.<\/p>\n
Slow to begin in several games this season, the Lakers were quick out of the blocks against the Lions, building up a handy four-goal break at quarter-time.<\/p>\n
While the Lions were able to get the game back on level terms by half-time, in a sign of growing maturity and confidence, the Lakers again pushed the margin out to a couple of goals and held on as the Lions valiantly attempted to reel the margin in.<\/p>\n
Lakers coach Meg Porter said it was pleasing to see another side of her team, which has been forced to come from behind early in some of their previous six wins this season.<\/p>\n
“I know the girls can chase, but we’ve got to learn to keep playing when it’s goal for goal and keep our calm and cool when we have a couple of goals lead,” she said.<\/p>\n
“When they levelled up at half-time, I thought anything could happen here, but credit to the girls, they kept the ball safe.<\/p>\n
“They kept their cool.<\/p>\n
“Sadie (Cheesman) could only play half a game because she had to play VNL (on Sunday), so the girls really knuckled down to the task.<\/p>\n
“They all did their job and played as a team, which is what you need against a team like Sunbury.”<\/p>\n
Cheesman played quarters one and three, with Rosie Todd taking over the duties in the second and fourth to continue applying the pressure.<\/p>\n
Further underlining the impressiveness of the win, the Lakers were without defenders Kate Drew and Remi Hooper, both overseas.<\/p>\n
This allowed Talia Hurdsfield to step up from B-grade to be a key cog at goal keeper, earning praise from her coach.<\/p>\n
“Gee she stepped up \u2026 Talia was amazing,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I will admit I was pretty concerned losing two defenders, but Talia did a brilliant job.”<\/p>\n
One of the youngest lineups in the competition, Lake Wendouree’s squad includes three 18-year-olds and a sprinkling of 21-year-olds.<\/p>\n
Two of those teenagers, Addi Funcke (26 goals at 72.22 per cent accuracy) and Ebony Porter (27 goals at 87.10 per cent) again combined effectively against one of the league’s best defences, while Bella Clark’s work rate, precision and patience at wing attack proved difficult to counter.<\/p>\n
A timely win has set the Lakers up nicely for a strong final third of the season following this week’s league-wide break.<\/p>\n
Their next game will be against winless Melton followed by big improvers Ballarat.<\/p>\n
“We really did have to beat one of those big three \u2013 Sunbury, Darley and North Ballarat \u2013 for our own belief,” Porter said.<\/p>\n
“We’d been so close \u2026 we lost by four (to Sunbury) last time, so we needed to take the next step and beat them.<\/p>\n
“We can’t be a side that’s just nearly there, we’ve got to win one to be considered up there with them.<\/p>\n
“Our starts have been poor and we seem to be chasing in games, but that good start (on Saturday) just made things that bit easier.”<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on Saturday, North Ballarat relinquished top spot on the ladder on percentage following a draw with Sebastopol.<\/p>\n
Scores were tied at 56-apiece after the Burra came from eight goals down in the middle part of the game.<\/p>\n
Sebastopol (fifth) joined Sunbury (fourth) on 6-4-1 as Darley moved to the top of the ladder with a 56-35 victory over Redan.<\/p>\n
Bolstered again by former New Zealand national league goal shooter Ellie Bird, Ballarat won a key battle in the fight for a finals spot against Bacchus Marsh at Maddingley Park.<\/p>\n
Bird starred with 55 goals, missing just one shot, in a 73-43 win, with regular shooter Dakota Blade on restricted game time.<\/p>\n
The Swans reclaimed fifth spot on the ladder.<\/p>\n
East Point kept its slim finals hopes flickering, picking up its third win of the season, 59-43 over Melton.<\/p>\n
Young gun Evie Roney again shone with 39 goals at 82.98 per cent accuracy.<\/p>\n
Round 12 draw (played on 11 July): North Ballarat v Bacchus Marsh; Melton v Lake Wendouree; Sebastopol v Ballarat; Sunbury v Redan; Darley v East Point.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAKE Wendouree have stamped themselves as serious premiership contenders after beating Sunbury for the first time in three years at C.E. Brown Reserve on Saturday. The Lakers made third spot behind Darley and North Ballarat their own with a plucky 53-50 victory. It was also the Lakers’ first win over a top three opponent in […]<\/p>\n