Lower Plenty ends Banyule’s undefeated start to NFL Division 2 season
Lower Plenty put an end to Banyule’s undefeated start to the NFL Division 2 season in a high-scoring thriller that could be a grand final preview.
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In a possible grand final preview, Lower Plenty put an end to Banyule’s undefeated start to the NFL Division 2 season on Saturday.
With just a kick in it late in the final term, the Bears piled on four goals in the dying minutes to claim a critical 41-point victory and move equal on 10 wins with their fellow Bears.
In stark contrast to the teams’ previous meeting, which saw just 13 goals kicked, it was a shootout at Montmorency Park with 35 majors kicked.
The 21.14 (140) to 14.15 (99) result showcased both team’s attacking capabilities as Ben Paterson and Billy Barden both booted five goals for Lower and Jack Langford finished with six majors to Banyule.
Bears coach Ben Turner praised his players’ ability to match it with the previously undefeated ladder-leader.
“I think both sides were really looking forward to (Saturday’s) contest and I think it lived up to expectations,” he said.
“The momentum swung our way late and getting the benefit some footy inside 50m gave us the opportunity late in the game.
“I think 20 minutes into the last quarter the difference was five points and the game could have gone either way.
“We were fortunate to score the next goal, which put us 11 points in front and then we got another one quickly after that which broke the cycle.”
Banyule and Lower Plenty are now two games clear of Eltham in third place and look a cut above the competition.
Paterson and Barden starred up front while Tom Blake, Ben Reardon, Tom Keys and Jesse Smith also impressed.
After playing his first senior game since 2015, Luke Deslandes was named Lower Plenty’s best on ground in the win.
Turner praised Deslandes for his shutdown role on Bears star Reuben Blackmore-Moore.
“Luke’s a great clubman, he’s played a bit of senior footy in the past but not so much in recent times,” Turner said.
“We asked him to do a role (on Saturday) and he fulfilled his role really well and it was a contributing factor in us winning the game.
“We had him running with (Blackmore-Moore), he’s a very good player, we sent Luke to him and we thought he did a great job.”
Josh Turner suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter of his return game and did not return.
Langford was best on for Banyule, while Michael Edwards, Blackmore-Moore and Devin McDonald also performed strongly.
The two teams are all but certain to meet again come finals time and Turner believed the win would hold his team in good stead.
“I think any time you can knock off the ladder-leader it will provide you a bit of confidence and belief,” he said.
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“Our form since the start of the season has been on a steady improve, the last two weeks have been really important and we were really keen to see where we stood.
“Their best is very good and they showed that last time we played, being six goals down half way through the second quarter, they torched us on that occasion.
“We took it as a great opportunity to play against the benchmark of the competition and thankfully we were able to capitalise on the opportunity.”
Lower will look to keep its winning momentum going against Fitzroy Stars while Banyule tackle Watsonia.
LOWER PLENTY CELEBRATES CLUB GREAT IN STYLE
Lower Plenty all but locked in a top-two finish after a commanding 32-point win over Thomastown on Saturday.
It sets up a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash against undefeated ladder-leader Banyule with the NFL Division 2 minor premiership up for grabs.
Bears coach Ben Turner was looking forward to the challenge and a chance to redeem a nine-point loss in Round 2.
“We’ve put ourselves, with Banyule, in a little pocket away from the chasing pack, which is pleasing, we’re really happy with the way things have progressed,” he said.
“(The Round 2 loss) was a game of two halves, they jumped us early and put a fair bit of space on the scoreboard and we spent the second half trying to peg them back and got within 10 points.
“A lot of things have changed since then too, we’ve got players in or out and likewise at Banyule and coming to our ground presents a different challenge.
“There’s still some important games to come in the back-end of the season, whilst we sit were we sit now we don’t take it for granted.”
Lower Plenty are now two games clear of Eltham and Thomastown with Diamond Creek and St Mary’s a further game back in a fierce finals battle.
In the all-Bears clash at Main Street Reserve, Lower Plenty powered away in a dominant fourth quarter to take a 8.12 (60) to 3.10 (28) victory.
Leading by just five points at the final change, the Bears took full advantage of the wind blowing toward the Main St end to pour in four goals to nil.
Ruckman Tom Blake was best-on-ground in the win after an enthralling battle with Thomastown’s Joel Carter.
Turner said Blake’s work around the group and combination with Tom Keys – who played more midfield despite being the fifth best goalkicker in the competition – was critical in the win.
Meanwhile, Billy Barden was the star up forward in his 200th game for Lower Plenty booting three goals, including his 350th.
The 2011 premiership captain has been a big contributor since returning from Macleod this season.
“(Blake) was terrific, Carter from Thomastown is a really good ruckman and Tom understood the influence he could have on the game,” Turner said.
“His link work with Tom Keys in the centre was pivotal to us winning the game.
“We’ve got the luxury of a player (Keys) who plays really well on the ball but when he goes forward he’s hard to stop, Tom.
“We actually started him inside 50m on Saturday but knowing Tom as a competitor he just wanted to get back in the middle and when he did things started to happen.
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“Billy has come back this year with a terrific attitude and he’s starting to play some really good footy for us and hitting the scoreboard.
“Just the experience, that’s the part we value the most in amongst everything else he brings, he’s got a lot of experience which our boys are certainly benefiting from at the moment.”
For the second time in three weeks Daniel Bramich was Thomastown’s best, while Daniel Caruso and James Rizzolio also impressed.
The Bears will look to bounce back against Fitzroy Stars at Sir Doug Nicholls Oval.
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