Romsey outlasts Melton South to keep pace in RDFNL top-six battle

Sitting seventh on percentage, Romsey knows it can’t afford to slip up in the final month. A gutsy win over Melton South was the perfect start.

Corey Pertzel gets a kick for Romsey. Picture: Andrew Batsch

The final month of the Riddell District season is do-or-die for Romsey.

The Redbacks, seventh on percentage, are locked in a four-way race for a top-six spot with three games remaining.

Saturday’s fighting 14-point win over rival Melton South at Romsey Park could prove season-defining.

Romsey kicked the only two goals of the fourth quarter to seal a 10.9 (69) to 7.13 (55) victory and draw level with the Panthers and Kyneton on seven wins.

Coach Nathan Blair said his players knew exactly what was at stake.

Romsey coach Nathan Blair. Picture: Andrew Batsch

“We knew it was going to be four quarters to get the job done and keep our season alive pretty much,” Blair said.

“We’ve got three left and a bye, so it’s going to come down to the last game.

“We’ve got Lancefield, Macedon and Woodend – Macedon is going to be the key one and we’ve still got to win the others and as you know in this league anyone can beat anyone on their day.

“Our aim is to win all three and be in good form going into finals.

“It’s a bit of a do-or-die situation, we know that and we want to embrace it.”

Romsey had one fewer scoring shot on the day but took its chances at key times.

It’s the second time this season the Panthers have kicked themselves out of a game against Romsey after a 14.4 (88) to 12.14 (86) loss back in Round 5.

However, inaccuracy has also been an issue for the Redbacks, costing them the Round 9 clash with Kyneton – losing 7.21 to 11.15.

They have also kicked 8.26 in a win over Melton Centrals and 5.12 and 9.16 in losses to Diggers Rest and Wallan.

Romsey led by three points at three-quarter-time and Melton South had early momentum but kicked two behinds to narrow the gap to a point.

Romsey captain Jack Jedwab. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Skipper Jack Jedwab and Will Di Pietro then made them pay with crucial goals to seal the game.

“The momentum swung all day, we’d kick two and then they’d kick two,” Blair said.

“It was just the team that took their chances better, scoring shots were basically the same, and we were lucky enough to take ours more than they did.

“Our goalkicking accuracy hasn’t been our strong point but we’re working on that.

“The pleasing thing is we’re having plenty of shots on goal but for us to make finals and then do some damage that’s something we have to get better at.”

Nathan Rayment was best-on-ground in the win, while Jedwab (four goals), Matt Burkett, Joseph Stapleton, Corey Pertzel and Ethan Beer also shone.

Blair praised Rayment’s versatility and dependability.

“Nath is probably our oldest player but he just keeps going, tough and skilful, and someone I can always count on,” he said.

“Whether we throw him back or forward, through the midfield, he gets us going and sets the tone for everyone.

“He started forward but we swung him back after quarter-time and he played a role really well, intercepted a lot and set us up behind the footy.”

For South, Jake Thornton-Gielen, Lachlan Pritchard, Sam Darley and captain Broden Collins stood tall.

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With Riddell’s Dean Galea (48) missing, Alec Goodson’s three goals closed the gap to two at the top of the league goalkicking charts.

Romsey hosts Lancefield this weekend before a potentially finals-deciding clash with Macedon at Tony Clarke Reserve, a bye and Woodend-Hesket in Round 18.

Macedon has Wallan, the Redbacks and Melton Centrals in the run home.

Kyneton faces Gisborne Giants, Melton Centrals and Melton South, while the Panthers tackle Gisborne Giants, Lancefield and Kyneton.