EFL 2019: Leigh Williams kicks five goals in Norwood’s 38-point win over Rowville

A five-goal haul from champion forward Leigh Williams inspired Norwood to its first win over a top-five side in nearly two years after a 38-point triumph over Rowville.

Leigh Williams fires a shot at goal. Picture: Chris Eastman/AAP

Seldom has Norwood challenged the Eastern Football League’s top echelon in recent years.

You have to go back to Round 13, 2017 to find the last time the Norsemen defeated a top-five team when they toppled Blackburn.

It had a 0-7 record against last year’s finalists and had fallen to Vermont and Noble Park in the opening rounds this year.

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But a Leigh Williams-inspired Norwood ended its long losing drought against Premier Division’s top five sides on Saturday when it defeated Rowville by 38 points at Mullum Mullum Reserve.

Williams kicked five goals in a best afield performance, with four of his majors coming in the second half to lead the Norsemen to a 12.12 (84) to 6.10 (46) win.

“They great thing about Leigh, every single week the opposition will put a lot of work into him and the thing I was so impressed and proud with was he had some difficult periods to fight through,” Norwood coach Marty Pask said.

“There were periods he was double-teamed, periods where some decisions might not have gone his way but I was just so proud of his body language and the way he fought through.”

Norwood led by 11 points at the final change but six goals to one in the last quarter sealed the win, improving its record to 2-3 and handing Rowville back-to-back losses.

Darin Stewart was influential across centre half-back, Jordan Gysberts was prominent and Mitch O’Donnell continued his strong season through the midfield.

The significance of the result was not lost on Pask.

“No doubt that was one of our challenges heading into this year that we needed to compete against sides that have played finals,” he said.

“It’s just fantastic from a coaching perspective to be able to show the players a lot of the things that you believe you’re doing right.

“At 1-3, it’s very hard and people externally look at results and think you’re probably a way off it.

“It’s important when you’re coaching you keep faith in what you’re trying to do and that was the pleasing thing.

“We know where we’ve been as a footy club but we certainly know where we want to get to and Saturday was an important step towards that.”

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