IF catches win matches in cricket, accurate kicking for goal wins footy games.
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South Warrnambool claimed consecutive wins for the first time since rounds 13 and 14 in 2012 with a nine-point upset against Terang Mortlake at Terang Recreation Reserve.
Both Roosters coach Matthew Monk and his Terang Mortlake counterpart Matthew Irving knew the game should have been over in the Bloods favour at quarter-time.
Terang Mortlake kicked 2.7 to 1.1 in the opening quarter and its inaccuracy haunted it by game’s end, with the Roosters prevailing 14.12 (96) to 13.9 (87).
“We were lucky they were errant, it gave us a sniff to stay in the game,” Monk said.
“We went down there with an expectation we could be competitive. I thought we would match up all right but we had to take our opportunities.”
Monk said his players’ second quarter when they kicked 6.4 to 3.0 was defining. They held a 10-point lead at half-time and despite Terang Mortlake hitting the front in the third quarter, the Roosters were a point up entering the final term.
“We are very happy the boys have that ability to win games that are tight,” Monk said.
“(It’s) terrific for our confidence and our future.” The Roosters’ bright future was underlined by the performance of second-gamer, Josh Alexander, who kicked two critical goals, playing in a forward line that included Robbie Gregg (six goals) and Sam Kelly (three goals).
The Roosters’ three wins in seven weeks is more than they won last season, when they finished on the bottom.
Irving was seething, despite his side moving two positions up the ladder after the loss.
“We gave away three 50-metre penalties which resulted in goals, we gave away three free kicks before the ball had been balled up and we gave away three free kicks off the ball,” he said.
“Discipline was the key word after the game.”
Irving said the Bloods erred in not tagging South midfielder Nick Thompson, who was best on ground, but they put their defensive efforts into Paddy Anderson, who cut them up at Mortlake in a match last season.