Roosters end Boroughs Winning Streak at Home

North Ballarat has kept its finals hopes alive with a stirring come-from-behind win over Port Melbourne in round ten of the Peter Jackson VFL season. After being 38 points behind at the twenty minute mark of the third term, the Roosters rallied to kick the last eight goals of the match, to win by ten points, 14.15.99 to 12.17.89. In overcast and cool conditions at North Port Oval not everything was going the home side’s way early as North Ballarat made it clear they were in for the long haul. Port led by one goal at the first break but early into the second quarter they began to stamp their authority on the match.

Shane Valenti, Chris Cain, Joshua Muling and Tom Gordon were on top around the packs and Dean Galea and Anthony Bonnadio were proving hard to hold up forward. They were looking the more dangerous entering their forward line and soon got some breathing space with goals to Toby Pinwell, Galea and Bonnadio. Liam Anthony and Steve Clifton were doing their best to keep their side within reach but Port were finding space as they often switched play catching the Roosters on the hop. Taylor Garner goaled for the Roosters to halt the Borough's momentum before Pinwell added another to leave the Borough 22 points up at half-time.

At the fifteen minute mark of the third term the margin had been reduced to thirteen points and the home crowd were becoming more vocal. However goals to Galea, Valenti, Cain and Joshua Scipione quickly blew the margin out to 38 points and all of a sudden the game appeared headed for a blow out. However, as quickly as Port took over, the Roosters recovered. They found avenues to goal through Cameron Richardson who booted two and James Keeble, Nathan Horbury, Pat Nicholls and a late one from Matt Austin got the Roosters back within fourteen points at the final change.

Port coach Gary Ayres was unimpressed with his player’s attitude towards their opponents telling them to put their egos back in the draw. Perhaps they we looking ahead to the following week and a grand final re-match with Geelong.

In the Roosters camp, coach Gerard Fitzgerald was calm, urging his players to move the ball on at all costs. The final quarter was tense as the Roosters threw everything at their more fancied opponents. All of a sudden it was North Ballarat who were finding space and when Garner marked and kicked his second nearing time-on they were in front. Garner goaled again soon after to seal the match and a thrilling win for the Roosters. The win ended a remarkable winning streak for Port on their home ground which lasted almost three years. Anthony was again superb for the visitors with 34 disposals, while Clifton (25) and Oliver Tate (19) were fine contributors.

Galea with a game-high four goals, Pinwell and Cain were among the better players for Port Melbourne. The loss drops Port to fourth spot on the ladder with the reigning premiers away in the next round. North Ballarat remains two games adrift of the top eight but will fancy themselves against rival and bottom placed Bendigo at home next week.