North Warrnambool Eagles v Warrnambool

THE Blues underscored their premiership claims with a fourth successive victory.

Carrying positive momentum into a contest against a sputtering North Warrnambool Eagles, which had lost its previous two encounters, Warrnambool opened with a seven-goal first quarter at Bushfield Recreation Reserve and never looked back in an 18.18 (126) to 5.10 (40) result.

Injured Warrnambool coach Dustin McCorkell attributed the big winning margin to an even contribution.

``It was pretty hard to pick our best players, which is always a good sign,'' McCorkell said.

``They had a lot of great players coming back in but our form the last couple of weeks has been pretty good.

``We went out there knowing if we played to our best form we'd win.''

Adam Main achieved a career high with five goals in his 159th appearance for Warrnambool, matching the return of full-forward Jason Rowan.

Ruck rover Justin Eales was also dangerous drifting forward, kicking two goals.

``It's good to see some of our midfielders kicking goals,'' McCorkell said.

``Jason worked up the ground hard and impressed with his defensive pressure.

``Our defensive pressure all over the ground was really good ... our forwards working hard to keep it in and the midfield working back. Probably four of our boys down back were 19 years or under.''

North Warrnambool Eagles could find only four players worthy of a place in its best players, led by Matthew Wines.

South Warrnambool v Port Fairy

ASSISTANT coach Jarrod Thompson led the Seagulls to an 11.13 (79) to 6.18 (54) victory in his first appearance against his old club.

Thompson was a defensive rock at centre half-back, where he marshalled his teammates for the club's first win since round four, 2007.

``We're on the board and the boys got reward for a bit of effort today,'' enthused Port coach Brad Cassidy.

``It was great to see some smiles on faces. It just gives the club a bit of a lift.

``I thought our training this week was very good both nights this week and the foundations for this win were built on Tuesday and Thursday.''

Port seized the early initiative to lead by 30 points at half-time and despite a third-quarter lapse wasn't punished by South, which was unable to capitalise with a return of 2.7.

It enabled the visitors to ease away with a three-goal-to-two final term.

Cassidy said the Seagulls would continue to work hard on lifting their skill level.

``I thought we applied some reasonably good pressure, especially on the South midfield at times, and that was a bit of an emphasis today,'' he said.

``We go into next week with winning form and that's what you want to do week in, week out.''

Port received good output from ruckman Tim Robertson, onballer Brad McCosh, wingmen Nick Sheehan and Josh Brown.

Young onballer Eli Barker was a livewire for the Roosters.

Terang Mortlake v Cobden

TERANG Mortlake kept Cobden winless at home with a dominant opening quarter on Saturday in Hampden Football Netball League round five competition.

The Bloods were revved up at the start of the game and their forwards rewarded rapid ball movement out of the centre square and in transition.

The 7.3 to 3.1 term set the platform for a pulsating finish to the contest as Cobden closed down the space and transformed the contest into a dogfight for the remaining three quarters.

Terang Mortlake triumphed 13.5 (83) to 10.15 (75) after the home side closed to within two points at the 24-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Young wingman Tyson Densley was the hero for Terang Mortlake when Pat Heffernan won the ball from a ruck contest on the half-forward line.

Densley worked from behind the contest and ran onto Heffernan's clearing handball, having enough time to steady and convert from 25 metres on a 45-degree angle at the 27-minute mark.

It was his side's only score of the final quarter and one of only three goals for the visitors in the second half - building an atmosphere in which his celebratory leap and fist pump was equal parts jubilation and relief. Cobden paid a high price for its slow start and inaccurate conversion after time but was gallant in defeat.

It doesn't hide the reality of three home defeats - to Koroit, Warrnambool and Terang Mortlake.

The Bombers kicked 4.12 in the second half, during which they enjoyed prolonged periods of dominance through increased intensity at the stoppages and forward pressure.

Their defence was also on top, reflected in the number of scoring shots after the long break - 16 to three.

Paul Foster gave Cobden a spark when he was moved onto the ball in the last quarter, helping create a series of opportunities which his forwards were unable to fully capitalise on.

Key forwards Corey Baulch and Sam Dunbar missed shots on goal, although their efforts were largely responsible for getting the home side back in the match. Despite starting at centre half-forward and full-forward respectively, they were at their best when switched after quarter-time.

Dunbar worked hard across half-forward and Terang Mortlake didn't have a defender who could match Baulch one-on-one in aerial contests.

Terang Mortlake's best was its running brigade, led by Densley, Xavier Moloney, Ben Kenna, Corey Rounds and Nathan Couch. Couch gave the Bloods a lift in the third quarter on the ball, while Moloney was steady across half-back and effective with his disposal when moving the ball back into the midfield.