By ADEM SARICAOGLU
HOPPERS Crossing found out the hard way they are still a fair way off matching the WRFL’s top sides in division one after Spotswood gave them an-eight goal touch up on Saturday.
A poor start proved very costly for the Warriors as the Woodsmen jumped them to a 27-point quarter-time lead.
But the Warriors are no easybeats, and during the second and third quarters they proved as such.
In the second term the Warriors allowed just two Spotswood goals while kicking one of their own, and after the main break managed to keep the Woodsmen goalless during the third quarter.
However Hoppers Crossing struggled to convert its strong defensive showing onto the scoreboard in attack, kicking just one goal on either side half-time to still be down by 28 points at the final change.
Spotswood was able to get out of its rut in the final term and managed to kick four late goals to the Warriors’ one to seal their 15th win of the season.
Thomas Jehle was the only multiple goal-kicker for the Warriors with two, while Terry Knight and Western Jets captain Ashlin Brown got singles.
The Woodsmen were able to share the load among seven individual goalkickers with Ben Perry (three goals), Torin Baker and Christian Elliot (two each) all getting multiples.
Jason Dozario was best-on-ground for the Warriors while Chase Morgan was given the honours for Spotswood.
A surprise 18-point loss to Altona over Deer Park on Saturday means Spotswood now finds itself level with the Vikings on top of the ladder once more, but a 26 per cent percentage buffer means Altona remains first one week out from the start of the finals series.
Hoppers Crossing is safe in the top four and can jump to third with a win over the Port Melbourne Colts this Saturday, but the Warriors would need to win convincingly to overcome their 10 per cent deficit with the Colts’ percentage to do so.
Spotswood’s last game ahead of the finals will be against battlers North Footscray.
