Shellharbour Suns coach Andy Wilton praised his side’s tackle pressure as their best performance of the season was rewarded with a 27-point win over Northern Districts in AFL South Coast Seniors at Kully Bay Oval.
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The Suns inflicted Norths third straight loss and leapfrogged from bottom of the table to equal third following Saturday’s 17.14 (104) to 11.11 (77) victory.
The match was deadlocked 47-47 at halftime but the Suns were too enthusiastic in the third term booting five goals to the Tigers three behinds, to take a match-winning 30 point lead into the final term.
Suns full forward Ramez Dagher booted five goals and was a handful, while midfielders Mitch Bates and Terry Deegan and ruckman Mitch Tope were inspirational.
‘‘We got our tackle pressure going second half and it was a big part in turning the game our way,’’ Wilton said.
‘‘They’re a pretty experienced side and like to keep possession and go backwards to go forwards, but we tackled hard and kept the pressure right up and it paid dividends.
‘‘It’s the first time all season we’ve played out the four quarters, rather than do it for a quarter here and there. For consistency of effort it’s our best win so far.’’
Shellharbour (8 points) join Norths, Nowra and Kiama - who had the round nine bye - in equal third while the top two sides, leaders Wollongong Lions (14 points) and Wollongong Bulldogs (12 points) had strong wins.
The Lions remain unbeaten after overpowering a brave Bomaderry in the second half in a 14.20 (104) to 6.8 (44) victory at North Dalton Park.
The Lions only led by 10 points at halftime but kicked eight goals to one in the second half.
Despite the loss Bomaderry fought hard and a similar performance will probably beat most of their other rivals this season.
Finally, the Bulldogs thrashed Nowra 22.8 (140) to 4.6 (30) at West Street Oval.
Tom Potter was a standout for the premiers booting six goals, while Michael Waldron, Sam Hodges and Evan Smith booted four goals each.
A fortnight ago Nowra were in second spot but have since been beaten by 129 points by the Lions and now 110 points by the Bulldogs in successive weeks.
This Saturday Norths host Kiama at Hollymount Park in their catch-up match from a washed out first round.
Norths will be happy just to play in successive weeks after last Saturday’s clash against Shellharbour was their first match for three weeks.
South Coast AFL ladder: Wollongong Lions 14; Wollongong Bulldogs 10, Northern Districts 8, Shellharbour 8, Kiama 8, Nowra 8, Bomaderry 6.
