Portland led at every break as it claimed a nine-goal victory against Warrnambool at Reid Oval.

Jennings revealed a mid-week pep talk with talented teenagers, defender Laura Kelly and goal shooter Tayla Falconer, had produced significant dividends for the Tigers.

The pair responded with their best games so far this season.

“I haven’t been getting a lot out of them,” Jennings said after the 49-40 result.

But goal keeper Kelly was named best on court while Falconer shot 21 goals alongside former league best and fairest winner Lauren Hockley (28 goals).

Jennings said the Tigers had an opportunity to extend their lead in the final quarter but dropped their intensity.

“We haven’t been playing bad,” she said.

“We were stiff not to win last week against Camperdown. We had them and we just let it go. 

“We’ve been putting a lot of pressure on through the midcourt and the teams we have been playing have been struggling to get it into their goal circle.

“I was happy with (the win). It’s a positive step in the right direction.”

The Tigers joined Warrnambool with 1-3 win/loss records.

Port Fairy upset long-time rival Koroit 32-28 at Gardens Oval. The result lifted the Seagulls to fifth on the ladder (2-2) while the Saints, the defending premier, slipped to seventh.

“Finally,” Seagulls coach Kellie Sommerville said.

“We’ve been playing all right. We’ve been getting better each week. It’s nice to get a win on the board.”

She said the Seagulls had a six-goal buffer during the second term but allowed the Saints back into the match, with scores tied at three-quarter-time.

Sommerville was delighted her players responded in the final quarter, with defenders, her sister Emma and Sarah Moroney being decisive.

Terang Mortlake climbed to second on the ladder with a 35-20 victory against the winless Cobden at Mortlake’s D.C. Farran Oval.

Coming off a loss to South Warrnambool, Terang Mortlake broke the game open with a 10-5 second quarter to gain an eight-goal advantage at the long break. The Bloods then iced the game with a 9-0 final quarter.

“It was hard to get a run on in the first three quarters because it was so wet,” Terang Mortlake coach Aimee Arundell said.