HARROW-BALMORAL has emerged as favourites to clinch the Horsham District league minor premiership after a 54-point win against second-placed Kalkee.
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The Southern Roos started off well with playing coach Nick Pekin leading the way in a five goal to one opening term.
Kalkee, who was missing gun forward Lachie Exell, fought back with the wind advantage in the second term to close the gap slightly at the half-time break. Harrow-Balmoral scored three behinds in the second term and led 36-22.
The Southern Roos suffered a setback with Hamish Ellis stretchered from the field in the first half after a heavy knock in which his head hit the ground hard.
That did little to stop Harrow-Balmoral, with a blistering third quarter setting up the win. The Southern Roos took advantage of some free kicks in their advantage, piling on six goals to Kalkee’s three behinds in the quarter.
The sting was out of the game in the last term with Harrow-Balmoral running out victors 14.11 (95) to 5.11 (41). Pekin finished with five goals and was best on ground for his side. He said it was a solid performance against a good team.
“We knew Kalkee was going to be strong and we needed that fast start and to maintain that,” he said.
“The game was there to be won in the third quarter and they really took it. That’s where games are won and lost and it really set us up for that last term.
“There is a lot of belief in this group at the moment that we can achieve anything.”
Kalkee coach Stuart Farr said his side missed an opportunity.
“It’s very disappointing and they outplayed us from start to finish, there’s no other spin you can put on it,” he said.
“We missed our tackles in the first quarter. I think every goal they scored in the first quarter was from a missed tackle and you can’t do that against a good side.
“We had a few undisciplined acts and the umpires were a bit hard to read as well.
“We have four or five players who can come straight back into the team, so it is a good wake up to everyone.”