By Colin MacGillivray

Inaccuracy and a sloppy second-quarter defensive effort were the only blemishes on an otherwise encouraging performance as Rupanyup beat Taylors Lake in the Horsham District senior football competition on Saturday.

The Panthers, looking to get back on track before finals after dropping four of their previous five games, jumped out of the blocks against the Lakers, with only an errant goal-kicking display of 5.6 preventing them from ending the contest by the first change.

The Lakers fought back gallantly in the second term, kicking five goals of their own to Rupanyup’s one to draw within 10 points.

But in the second half it was all one-way traffic, as Rupanyup’s Kieran Sait cracked in to win the hard ball in the midfield, limiting the Lakers’ forward entries.

Bill Hansen also found plenty of the ball, kicking 3.6 for the afternoon as Rupanyup cantered to a 14.23 (107) to 6.7 (43) win.

Panthers coach Brayden Ison said if his team could straighten out its kicking in the two weeks before finals, it would stand a chance of beating any other team.

“It was promising to see that after half-time we defended the ground well and got the game on our terms,” he said.

“We probably defended by winning the ball. 

“They didn’t have a lot of the ball in the second half, so we got back to winning the ball like we did in the first quarter and we transitioned the ball really well into our forward line.

“Bill Hansen came away with three goals, so if he’d kicked 6.3 instead of 3.6 that’s a heck of a game. 

“Hopefully he can go into finals kicking straight and he’s going to be a hard man to stop.”

For the Lakers, it was coach Justin Beugelaar who stood out with five goals, while Trae Martin, Bray Cullinan and Beau Monaghan worked hard.

Rupanyup’s win, combined with Pimpinio’s 23.15 (153) to 8.6 (44) thumping of Kaniva-Leeor United, mathematically eliminated Edenhope-Apsley from finals contention.

The current top six of Harrow-Balmoral, Swifts, Noradjuha-Quantong, Laharum, Rupanyup and Pimpinio will play finals, although the order in which they finish is yet to be determined.

Harrow-Balmoral is guaranteed to claim the minor premiership as it bids for back-to-back flags, but Noradjuha-Quantong and Laharum remain capable of dislodging Swifts from second place after the Baggies went down to the Roos 16.14 (110) to 12.6 (78) on Saturday.

Leading by only 14 points at the long break, the Roos hit the accelerator in the second half, with Rhys Daffey and Cody Deutscher each kicking five goals, while coach Jai Thompson and Nick Pekin won plenty of the ball.

Ryan Folkes continued an outstanding season for the Baggies, with Liam Scott and Angus Murray providing support.

Natimuk United can lay claim to being this season’s unluckiest team, losing its third game by two points or less against Edenhope-Apsley on Saturday.

The bottom-of-the-table Rams led throughout the contest, but found themselves trailing in the last quarter.

A captain’s goal from Callum Cameron brought them within three points, but while Natimuk peppered the forward 50 with entries, it was unable to find a winning goal.

Dylan Newell’s set shot from a difficult angle with only seconds remaining could have won the Rams the game, but it cannoned into the post, and the Saints hung on for a 9.9 (63) to 8.14 (62) win.

The Rams will have a bye this weekend before closing their season against Swifts.

Other games on Saturday will see Edenhope-Apsley and the Baggies clash at Edenhope, Harrow-Balmoral hosting Laharum at Harrow, Noradjuha-Quantong welcoming Rupanyup, Pimpinio travelling to Taylors Lake and Kalkee on the road at Kaniva. 

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