A FINAL quarter fadeout cost the Western Jets any chance of causing an upset win against Gippsland Power on Saturday. The Jets were able to match it with their more highly fancied opponents for the majority of the contest until the final quarter when the Power flicked the switch. Gippsland booted eight goals to two in a dominating finish to secure the 56-point win, 17.6 (108) to 7.10 (52). Despite the loss, Spencer White was able to continue his good goal kicking form to finish with three majors and bring his season tally to 23. Around the ground Sam Critchley and Scott Greenhough tried hard but it wasn’t enough to stop the Power.
It wasn’t all bad news for the Jets, which remain in contention for the finals after eighth-placed Geelong went down to Oakleigh. Western is ninth on the ladder, one game behind the Falcons after 13 rounds. This week the Jets will meet top-of-the-table North Ballarat Rebels as they go about trying to cause one of the upsets of the season.
THE Williamstown CYMS Football Club fell to another loss on Saturday in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, this time by 84 points to North Old Boys/ St Pat’s. The CYs have been under pressure all year because of injuries and were no match for the top-of-the-ladder St Pat’s, who opened up a 28-point lead at quarter time and never looked back from there. Williamstown’s Nathanael Ward worked hard up forward, kicking four goals while Steven Barlow kicked two. The CYs remain in ninth place on the Division One ladder with just the two wins for the year. This week they will take on the sixth-placed MHSOB as they try to finish the season on a high note. Elsewhere in the VAFA, Werribee Districts lost by 78 points to St Kevin’s, 22.8 (140) to 9.8 (62). The loss was Werribee’s seventh for the year with the club falling to seventh on the ladder. This week the Districts will take on first placed University Blacks.
THE Altona Men’s basketball side has come away with one win and one loss from a huge weekend, which began on Saturday night against Whittlesea. The Gators shot out of the blocks against their more highly fancied opponents to streak away to a nine-point lead at the first break. But an incredible second term from Whittlesea saw the Pacers score 32 points to restore order and go into the main break with an eight-point lead. There was no coming back for the Gators, who continued to work hard but could not slow down their fast-finishing opponents, as Whittlesea went on to claim the 16-point win 82-66. James Guljas continued his outstanding season for Altona, scoring 20 points and winning five rebounds. There was no time to dwell on the loss, though, with the Gators forced to back up less than 24 hours later for their match against La Trobe City. After trailing by three points going into the last quarter Altona rallied to finish strongly and secure the two point win 62-60. This time is was Shaun Phelan who led from the front, scoring 17 points.
