THE Lancefield Tigers are roaring again after a breakthrough win against Woodend marked the club’s first Riddell District Football League triumph since August 2010.
The 14.10 (94) to 11.5 (71) win at Gilbert Gordon Oval has breathed new life into the battle for places at the bottom of the table and left the race for sixth spot wide open.
The Tigers had been winless since being bundled out of the 2010 finals in straight sets, enduring a winless 2011 and five straight defeats to start this year’s campaign.
But eight goals for marking targets John Baker (five) and Ben Richmond (three) gave Lancefield the scoring power to outlast the Hawks. Lancefield opened with three unanswered goals in the first term and consolidated the advantage to lead by 21 at half-time.
Still ahead by 28 at the last change, the match opened up with Woodend Hesket kicking six finalquarter goals and Lancefield answering with five.
But the Hawks were unable to get any closer than a three-score deficit in the high-scoring final term.
‘‘You could see that there is a confidence that has built and that players are doing what they’ve been asked to do,’’ Lancefield football operations manager Alan Inman said.
‘‘Especially through the training and drills they’ve been working on.
‘‘It gives the team confidence to have players that can mark and kick goals in the forward line; John [Baker] as that focal point with Ben Richmond down there were that.’’ Lancefield had been on the end of some hiding since the first five weeks and sported a percentage of 15.30 heading into the weekend.
But Inman said the pre-game feeling in the rooms was no different taking onwoodend Hesket to any other opponent. ‘‘Before any game there is anticipation and that natural wind-up, even against top teams that belief is there,’’ he said.
‘‘Let’s put the peg in the ground for this game, it gives the players that belief to go forward with.’’
Woodend Hesket spearhead James Hepburn kicked five goals to be in his team’s best along with Ric Cerminara and Matthew Quinn.
Winger and alternative ruck Jake Sutcliffe, Chris Burkett and Chris James were top Tigers.
Last Modified on 22/05/2012 11:57