By Bill Kyriakopoulos
WILLIAMSTOWN has continued its march up the Victorian Football League ladder after a hard-fought five-point victory over the Bendigo Bombers at Windy Hill on Sunday.
The Seagulls secured third place on the ladder with the win, while across town a late charge by Werribee was not enough to get over Box Hill on Saturday.
Williamstown faced a resolute Bendigo, which belied its lowly position to put up a real challenge in wintry conditions – and if not for wayward kicking from the Bombers it could have been a different result.
The Seagulls had five fewer scoring shots than their opponents but managed the win led by Collingwood players Jason Cloke and Leon Davis, and the ever consistent Brett Johnson and Julian Rowe.
Williamstown overcame a slow start to lead by two points at half-time but was down by four points going into the last quarter.
But led by Cloke, the Williamstown defence restricted Bendigo to one point in the final term as a solitary Seagulls goal secured the victory.
Meanwhile, it was a thriller at Box Hill on Saturday as a poor start and ordinary kicking cost Werribee a win.
The Tigers failed to score a major in the first term, kicking nine behinds as the Hawks flew out to a four-goal lead at quarter-time.
It was more of the same in the second quarter as Box Hill piled on six goals to three to set up a daunting 43-point lead.
But Werribee came out fighting in the third quarter kicking three early unanswered goals and continued to dominate, but was again let down by poor shooting to be 26 points behind at the last break.
The nail-biting final term again saw the Tigers come out hard led by James Podsiadly and Jarrod Garth, and despite getting within a kick on several occasions, the team was unable to overcome the resolute Hawks.
Garth and Podsiadly each kicked three goals and Tom Davidson kicked two, while Robert Castello and Kieran McGuiness were Werribee’s best on ground.
The Tigers maintain sixth spot on the ladder despite the loss.
