NORTH Ballarat Rebels will enter the TAC Cup Easter break winless after a 10-minute lapse proved their downfall on Saturday.
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The Rebels suffered a 12.14 (86) to 6.11 (47) loss to Murray Bushrangers, making it three defeats to start the 2014 season.
The David Loader-coached side was one point down at the first break but the Bushrangers slammed on five unanswered majors in the second term to take control.
It proved a match-winning burst as the two sides managed a combined total of just five goals in the second half.
“It was the same story we have had the first two weeks -— we played one bad quarter of footy,” Loader said.
“We had about 10 minutes of bad footy and that was the difference in the game again.”
Portland ruckman Rowan Marshall kicked a goal and was named in the Rebels’ best, as was Tiger teammate Tom Templeton.
“Marshall was fantastic,” Loader said.
“It was the best game of TAC Cup I have seen him play.
“He positioned himself well around the ground and took a fair few marks, so he was terrific.”
Geelong Falcons turned a 13-point three-quarter-time deficit into a 35-point win against Gippsland Power on Saturday.
The Falcons booted nine goals to one in the final term on their way to a 17.12 (114) to 11.13 (79) win. They remain unbeaten after three rounds.
Hampden duo Paul Pekin and Josh Carlin, who is battling a knee injury, are yet to make their TAC Cup debuts for the Falcons.