Unbeaten this season, Thomastown trailed at half-time in the Northern Football League clash with South Morang on Saturday but was confident in its ability to run out games.
And so it proved, the division 3-leading Bears sweeping aside their challenger to win by 44 points, 14.12 ( 96) to 7.10 (52).
Bears coach Dean Sinclair said he was happy with his side’s first half, despite the deficit.
“It was a competitive first half,” he said. “Being top of the table, all teams will come at us right from the start and [South Morang] have finished off some matches pretty well this season, so we were quite worried.”
The Bears hit the front in the third quarter, and though the three-quarter-time lead was only seven points, Sinclair was confident.
“With our fitness, we knew we could run over the top of them,” he said.
“We’ve had to do it three or four times this season.
“We’ve been working really hard in training and both the seniors and reserves have commented on how good they felt after their games.”
Jacob Osei-Duro continued his good form for Thomastown with six goals to back up his 12 the week before, while Michael Di Battista grabbed four.
Lions assistant coach Mark Muscat said his side was outrun by a stronger team. “We tackled really hard and used the ball well but they ran over the top of us. Last time we played them we were even at half-time and they did the same thing.”
Muscat said the backline held the side in good stead against the Bears.
“Mitch Buckley and Nathan Moro were strong all day and one of our under-17s, Anthony Capeci, is holding his spot,” he said.
Ashley Hobbs led the Lions’ goal-scoring, with three.
This week brings a top-of-the-table clash between the Bears and Reservoir, while the Lions face Heidelberg West. There were no division 1 or 2 matches at the weekend.
