Reigning premiers North Ballarat City flexed its muscle in the finest possible fashion in the third quarter on Sunday, dominating Lake Wendouree to set up a telling 43-point victory.

In one of the most anticipated matches of the Ballarat Football League season to date, North City proved far too good in the second half to run out 13.18 (96) to 7.11 (53) victors.

After a tight opening half in which the lead changed hands a number of times, it was the wise heads of North City that helped break the game open.

Despite losing in-form forward Derick Micallef with a hamstring injury in the opening term, the black and white brigade still managed to find a number of routes to goal to kick away after the main break.

Tyler and Ayden George kicked three each, as did James Cusack.

Coach Rob Waters said it was side’s ability to win the tough footy that helped it get on top.

He gave special mention to the second half efforts of Daniel Kilpatrick in the midfield, as well as the likes of veterans Ayden George and Jason McNamara.

“We won the contested footy in the second half and that really opened it up for us,” Waters said.

“They are a good club so to be able to knock them off is really pleasing for us. It was probably some of the better footy we’ve played for the year.”

For the Lakers, coach Gavin Webb said it was somewhat of a reality check to go down by seven goals to the reigning premiers.

He said unlike other weeks, it was actually difficult to pinpoint enough players to even fill out the best players on the scorecard.

However, he did reserve particular praise for the likes of Scott Carey off half back, Steve Clifton through the midfield and Lane Buckwell in the ruck.

Like their opponents, the Lakers were left a man short in the second half after Lachie O’Connell was concussed in a tackle.

“I think we went into our shells a little bit in the second half and started just bombing away, which didn’t help with our big men (Lucas Anderson, Jackson Bowen and Matthew Tuminello) not playing,” Webb said.

“Our passages at our best is very good but it didn’t last all game. Their ball use was a lot cleaner and we just fell away.”

North City faces East Point next week, while Lake Wendouree has another testing encounter, again playing on a Sunday, this time at Darley Park.

“It’s a tough period for us but this is where we have to get straight back on the horse,” Webb said.