LAKE Wendouree fended off a fired up Redan to stay a game clear on top of the Ballarat Football League ladder with two rounds remaining.
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The Lakers absorbed everything the Lions threw at them to run away in the second half at Wendouree on Saturday – 15.11 (101) to 9.6 (60).
Redan was within 16 points at half-time, but was no match after the break.
Lake Wendouree coach Gavin Webb said the Lakers had reaped the benefits of a “great” preparation off the back of a bye.
He said Lakers had to respond after losing their latest outing to North Ballarat and they had.
“It showed character.”
Webb said every player had made a contribution.
He did singled out the defensive efforts of Lane Buckwell, who shut down Redan spearhead Brenton Riordan, and Dan Mahony, who tagged Nathan Horbury.
Isaac Kirby was another stand-out in defence with a series on intercept marks.
Steve Clifton and Nick Peters defied hard tags to dominate the midfield for Lake Wendouree, along with Bailey Edwards and Ben Taylor.
Andrew Pitson was also sharp in attack with four goals.
BACCHUS MARSH 13.14 (92) d MELTON 13.8 (86)
Bacchus Marsh survived a major fright from Melton at Maddingley Park on Saturday.
The Cobras scraped home by six points in a see-sawing battle in which the Bloods produced their best performance of the season.
Bacchus Marsh remains in second place – one game behind Lake Wendouree, which it meets in the last round after next week’s clash with Ballarat.
Alec Del Papa kicked four goals for the Cobras
Melton did its finals hopes no harm with the encouraging effort,.
With Darley still to play on Sunday (against North Ballarat City), Melton remains in sixth position on percentage from the Devils.
EAST POINT 14.16 (100) d BALLARAT 9.18 (72)
East Point is back within one win of the top six after defeating an inaccurate Ballarat by 18 points at the Eastern Oval on Saturday.
The Kangaroos opened up the game with a five-goal second quarter.
Daniel Tung (four goals) and Brad Whittaker (three goals) led the way in attack in a game which East Point had to win to keep their finals hopes alive.
SUNBURY 27.27 (189) MELTON SOUTH 13.4-82
A dominant Sunbury crushed the Panthers by 107 points at Melton Recreation Reserve.
Alik Magin was again a star for the Lions as they had 54 scoring shots as 12 players kicked goals.
Josh Burgess bagged five goals for Sunbury.
This lifts Sunbury from fifth to third and sends Redan from fourth to fifth.
NORTH BALLARAT CITY v DARLEY at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.
LADDER
Lake Wendouree 13 11 2 0 2 0 1342 925 145.08 52
Bacchus Marsh 13 10 3 0 2 0 1470 801 183.52 48
*North Ballarat City 13 9 4 0 2 0 1443 981 147.09 44
Redan 14 10 4 0 1 0 1287 879 146.42 44
Sunbury 13 9 4 0 2 0 1352 925 146.16 44
Melton 13 6 7 0 2 0 952 1046 91.01 32
*Darley 13 6 7 0 2 0 1074 1197 89.72 32
Ballarat 13 5 8 0 2 0 1031 1334 77.29 28
East Point 13 4 9 0 2 0 1071 1180 90.76 24
Sebastopol 14 3 11 0 1 0 809 1386 58.37 16
Melton South 14 0 14 0 1 0 747 1924 38.83 4
