Could this be the turning point for Benalla All Blacks?
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
After several almost wins against top teams this season, the All Blacks signalled their intent to push for finals with a stunning four-point victory over Whorouly on Saturday.
And with cellar-dweller North Wangaratta up next for Benalla, the All Blacks could soon be one win away from smashing into the top six of the Ovens and King league.
Following a one-point loss to Greta and a 19-point loss to Glenrowan in recent weeks, the All Blacks were in danger of slipping down the ladder despite competitive losses.
But it was claiming their biggest scalp of the season against top-three side Whorouly at Friendlies that backed up senior coach Harry Moran’s earlier claims his side could beat anyone in the league.
‘‘We took up the challenge, played with no fear and got the reward,’’ Moran said.
The All Blacks started strongly, dominating inside 50s and clearances to lead by 19 points in the opening term.
But a second-term lapse threatened to derail the All Blacks’ chances, with the Lions pouncing to score six goals to two to claw back a lead of eight points by half-time.
And with the All Blacks two players down at half-time, with Harry Ellis taken off with concussion and Jack Doidge suffering a corkie, Moran implored the team’s fringe players to step up.
‘‘We needed all the guys to stand up,’’ he said.
The All Blacks returned to their opening-quarter brilliance in the third term, and stretched the lead back out to three goals before the final change.
And it was a defensive effort from the All Blacks in the final term which delivered the winning results, with Moran’s defensive line set a challenge to limit the Lions to three goals.
‘‘Though we couldn’t score, and Whorouly came hard, to hold on was phenomenal to see,’’ Moran said.
‘‘That would have been a game to get away from us.
‘‘Belief is the main thing we take from that.’’
Though Benalla missed skipper Al Jacka, who was a late out with injury, several other players rose to the occasion.
Lochie Morrison was named best on ground, his class rising to the fore as he burst through the midfield, while Sam Newton and Nic Spencer — who spoiled everything in sight — were strong down back.
But it was Zac Amarant who maybe gave the most influential performance of the day.
Despite playing for the majority of the game with an injured shoulder, an inspired move to shift Amarant down forward meant the All Blacks had the X-factor in front of goal.
And it was the youngster who kicked both goals in the second quarter for the All Blacks to keep his team in touch during the dominant patch from the Lions.
Benalla’s match against North Wangaratta on Saturday looms as another crucial game in the All Blacks’ march up the ladder, with a opening round rematch against competition leader Milawa awaiting in the following round.
‘‘It’s very important we don’t take the foot off the gas,’’ Moran said.
‘‘We’ll go in with the same mindset — and throw caution to the wind.
‘‘We don’t want to over-think it, and we definitely don’t want to be complacent.’’
Final score: Benalla All Blacks 11.5 (71) def Whorouly 10.7 (67).