The Wombats, who face unbeaten Tallygaroopna this Saturday, tried valiantly to match it with the second-rung holders in a dour struggle, going down by 15 points.
The Wombats couldn’t get their nose in front at any stage despite the efforts of Tanner Cerone, who booted three goals, fly-in recruit Tom Davies and James Ross, who got plenty of support from Nathan Torney, Logan Demasi and Coby O’Neill.
Veterans Mick Shiels and Mick Roberts, who booted four goals, Steve Barber and Blake Fothergill were the players who inspired the Lakers most to keep withstanding the pressure applied by the Wombats, who lost fourth place to Murchison-Toolamba with their defeat.
■Murchison-Toolamba ran out 15-point winners over Stanhope in another vital and keenly fought contest after leading all match at Stanhope.
The home side, led by Jamie Spencer, Tom Hepburn, Sam Woodward and Jack Young, couldn’t edge ahead of the visitors, who were inspired by the efforts of Shane Kay, Alex Wells, Ashton Cashion and James Londrigan.
The win lifted the combine into fourth place at Lancaster’s expense.
■Merrigum missed its chance to slip back into the top six, beaten by 23 points by third-placed Avenel in the clash at Merrigum.
An eight-goal second quarter by the Swans was the deciding factor in the win but to its credit Merrigum kept fighting to the final siren with Jake Parkinson, Locky Dillon, Tom Schoots and Jack Sinclair not backing down and getting plenty of support from Sean Reidy and David Matthews.
Angus Durnan’s seven-goal haul was a matchwinning effort for the Swans, who had prime movers in the ever reliable Braydon Avola, Mick Tinkler and Mick Morgan.
■Highlighted by a 19-goal haul from Glenn Campbell Undera kept itself in the finals hunt with a percentage-boosting win over Longwood.
Shaun Wilson also slotted nine goals in a game in which Longwood failed to raise a flag.
Classy Kane Herbert was in everything for Undera along with Brent Ralph and Cody Tancred.
■Rushworth also had a big day in front of goals, slotting 44 in a 268-point demolition of Ardmona.
Isiah Johnson with 14 goals, Tuala Vave with 11 and Tim Varigas with eight did the finishing off work of Rod Bamblett, Dan Newton and Peter Paulino.
■Unbeaten Tally kicked 37 goals against Violet Town, who managed just three majors.
Josh Wellington, with 11 goals, was among 12 individual goalkickers for Tally.
■ There are more telling games this week, with Merrigum expected to revive its finals hopes with a big win over Ardmona and Stanhope and Girgarre to also keep their hopes alive against Longwood and Rushworth respectively.
Lancaster has the biggest assignment of all finals hopefuls though, taking on unbeaten Tally at Tally.