WILSTON-Grange all but cemented a place in the finals top-three after downing Springwood by 55 points at Hickey Park on Saturday.
By Terry Wilson
The finals double-chance now looms large after the Gorillas saw off the Pumas by 20.18 (138) to 11.7 (73), an impressive first half setting up the big win.
Rival coach Paul Opbroek was particularly impressed by what he saw in the Gorillas before half-time.
“In the first half their ball movement was first rate, probably the best I’ve seen this season,” noted Opbroek.
“They started off well – they were out there to prove a point – but in the end I was pretty happy considering our outs. They outscored us by only two goals after half-time.”
Winning coach David Martin was more than pleased with the win, perhaps the only worry coming from a drop in delivery to the forward line after the big break.
“In the first half we had good, direct entry to the forwards,” he said. “Then in the third quarter, when we had all the play, we took it in a bit wide.
“So obviously we did not have the same conversion rate.”
The Gorillas had winners up front in Dean Warren (seven goals) and Tim Nicholson (four), who provided twin marking targets.
Martin said Nicholson’s strong leads left plenty of room for Warren as the pair blended perfectly as attacking focal points.
Half-back flanker Will Oswall and centreman David Tough also stood out for the Gorillas, who sit third on the tightly-packed premiership ladder , level with three other sides on 44 points.
Springwood had any number of triers, but they lacked the class and experience of the Grange.
Best for the Pumas were 20-year-old ruckman Tiger Monk, ruckman/forward Blake Wallis, rover Will Sutton and 19-year-old half-back flanker Josh Brown.
