The Coburg Lions has made in two wins in a row against a resilient North Ballarat Rooster outfit at Eureka Stadium.
The visiting team showed the value of efficiency with North Ballarat kicking 7.20.62 in a game that easily could’ve gone their way.
Coburg were led by their senior players, Fox (28 disposals), Thomas (22 disposals) and Usyal (26 disposals) in the midfield while Ahmed Saad showed there was no longer an issue with his hamstring, kicking 6 goals.
North Ballarat started the better of the two sides in chilly and greasy conditions at Eureka Stadium. However were unable to capitalise from 13 scoring shots.
Ahmed Saad made the most of his two early opportunities as the Lions took a valuable led kicking against the wind.
The Roosters couldn’t convert, the visitors continually struggling to break the line in the heavy wind, lucky to go into the first break up by 2 points after North Ballarat had and incredible 30 inside fifties for the quarter.
Two quick entries resulted in back to back posters before a 50 metre penalty gifted Ben Allan his first goal of the season, as Nathan Thomas followed suit, Coburg building a wall of their own, taking a 22 point lead mid-way through the second.
North Ballarat capitalised on a rare turnover late in the second quarter and finally converted to reduce the margin to 16 points at the half.
The Lions got on top early in the middle of the ground to start the third term, to North Ballarat’s credit they wrestled back momentum to cut Coburg’s lead to 7 points, the closest the home team had been in a half.
Poor corridor coverage then allowed the home side to take the lead, as Coburg struggled again to break the line, before eventually converting and taking back the lead at the three quarter time break.
Some fighting words from senior coach Peter German fired up he troops who were keen to atone for the round one loss to North Ballarat at Piranha Park
The lead changed twice in the first 10 minutes of the last, however this time Coburg would not go down without a fight, lifting the intensity, snaring three in a row as Goodwin, Fox and Thomas drove from the midfield, the visitors taking a 21 point lead.
Ahmed Saad then put the icing on the cake, shaking his man to kick his 6th for the game, the Lions running out eventual 30 point winners.
Both the Senior and development sides return to Piranha Park next Saturday (18th June) to take on Port Melbourne.
Best: R. Fox, A. Saad, N. Blair, O. Uysal, B. Allan, J. Cauchi
Goals: A. Saad 6, J. Cauchi 2, P. McEvoy 2, B. Allan, M. Ercolano, L. Featherstone, N. Thomas
