Wyndhamvale didn’t have it all its own way against blossoming rival Manor Lakes in the Western Region Football League division 2 local derby at Howqua Reserve on Saturday.
It was apparent from early in the contest that the Falcons would have their work cut out, with the home side hellbent on ruffling the feathers of the top team.
The Falcons eventually wore down the Storm to win by 40 points, but not before staring at a half-time deficit and paying respect to the challenge thrown down.
“It was a hard game,” Falcons coach Troy Beamond told Star Weekly. “Manor Lakes came out a little bit harder than us early.
“Credit to them, they really impressed us with their run and carry and they took the game on.”
After spending most of the season on top of the ladder, the Falcons are the side with the biggest target on their backs.
Combine that with the local bragging rights and you had a pretty fired-up Storm team.
“I’ve no doubt teams lift for us,” Beamond said. “There’s also a bit made up about us versus Manor Lakes and us versus Glenorden and that local rivalry.
“Our three clubs always lift when we play each other; I think that plays a part.
“Manor Lakes, despite their ladder position, have been competitive each time we’ve played them. This was the third time this year and they’ve all been hard, physical contests.”
Perhaps the game was closer than it had to be. With his eyes on the bigger picture, Beamond experimented with his side in the first half, using a number of players out of their usual position.
The players also let themselves down with poor kicking for goal, finishing with 3.11 for the half.
The Falcons reverted to their strongest line- up after half-time and turned the game on its head with a seven-goal third term
Leaders Devan Ellis, Daniel Bunworth, Luke Dennerley and Nathan Reschke stepped up in a big way to give the flag favourites some breathing room.
Ellis, skipper for the day, made his side’s intentions felt only seconds into the third term.
“We were a goal down at half-time and at the first centre bounce [of the second half] he won the clearance and hacked it forward, followed it up and got the crumbs himself and kicked the goal,” Beamond said. “It turned the game around in the first 30 seconds of the half.”
The Falcons’ win maintained their one-game advantage over second-placed West Footscray. They have a danger game at home on Saturday, against a Caroline Springs team fighting to stay in the finals hunt.
“It’s basically an elimination final for the them,” Beamond said. “They’ll come out hard early and put everything on the line, so we have to withstand that.”
In division 1, Werribee Districts turned a 23-point three-quarter time deficit on its head, overrunning St Albans by 37 points in a stunner at Kings Park Reserve.
The Tigers booted nine last-term goals after booting only four in the first three quarters.
Chris Molivas was a big factor in the comeback with five goals.
In division 3, Wyndham Suns tumbled to third after a 69-point thrashing from Sanctuary Lakes at Goddard Street Reserve.
