General News
18 July, 2024
Heavy field fells Bears in the first
A SLUGGISH start has trampled Bears Lagoon Serpentine’s hopes for a second big Loddon Valley league upset in a week. The Bears were at home to reigning premiers Marong - the Panthers licking wounds inflicted by Pyramid Hill in ending their...
A SLUGGISH start has trampled Bears Lagoon Serpentine’s hopes for a second big Loddon Valley league upset in a week.
The Bears were at home to reigning premiers Marong - the Panthers licking wounds inflicted by Pyramid Hill in ending their unbeaten 42-game run.
But the home ground was slippery, sloppy and boggy - 25mm of rain had fallen during the week.
The Panthers adapted to the heavy conditions first and best. They held Serpentine goalless in the opening term and took a 25-point lead to the first break, even if 70 per cent of scores had been behinds.
Serpentine spent the next three quarters playing catch-up football on a ground that churned up with a ball becoming heavier by the kick and legs reduced to occasional spurts of speed.
Tyler Myles was the muddied workhorse in defence for the Bears. He repelled many a Panther lunge only to see Marong’s stylebook turnovers unleashed across the midfield.
A late goal to Marong in the third term pushed the margin back out to three goals.
Matthew Willox, Matthew Riordan, Jack McCaig and the consistent Richard Tibbett held sway in the hard slog
Serpentine had its chance in the final term with play constantly being sent deep forward.
Laird, Priest and youngster Jaxon Addlem were leading the Bears in a desperate battle.
But two fourth term goals from the boot of Kain Robins proved the difference.
One came after Robins out marked Bears’ coach Jake Wilkson in the square, the next minutes later when Marong came streaming out of defence and found his strong hands.
Serpentine had the better deal on the scoreboard in that final 30 minutes of play.
Three goals, including an almighty 40-metre roost from Farran Priest gave the Bears hope mid-way through the term.
Serpentine was tackling with a ferocity that may have reminded Marong of the intense pressure applied the previous week by Pyramid Hill.
Draper Jean-Miguel Podosky and Miles were key cogs in frustrating Marong as the clock ticked down.
Laird’s goal minutes before the siren would be the last score of the day.
Serpentine reduced its losing margin from 38 points in round four when Josh Mellington kicked six goals, to 10 points on Saturday.
The scoreboard showed Serpentine had the better of Marong for three quarters.
That one-quarter flaw remains a niggle for the Bears trying to secure a double chance in 2024.