GVL | Gallery | ‘Good reward for effort’: Shepparton secures derby win

In the first term things were close, before a 28-point-to-two second quarter saw Shepparton build a solid lead.

After half-time competition was tight on the field, however as the game wore on the Bears continued to outscore their opponent and secured a convincing victory.

Shepparton coach Ted Lindon said it was great to see the players rewarded for the effort they had been putting in.

“We’ve sort of been doing some good things defensively but it was really nice to be able to hit the scoreboard, we got 100 points again so that was pleasing,” Lindon said.

“The biggest thing for me was just to see the boys get reward for effort and all the hard work they’ve been putting in without necessarily getting the win.”

Jayden Dhosi had a fantastic game for the Bears, while Nick Allen “keeps getting better with age” according to Lindon.

“Rhiley Lau was fantastic at intercepting the opposition forward-half entries all day and Nick Allan’s output in a slightly different role spending more time at half-forward was brilliant as well,” Lindon said.

“Ultimately it was just a collective effort.”

While the win sees the Bears move into eighth position on the ladder, Lindon explained the side was not looking at the standings too closely.

He said with five rounds to go in the season, the focus was now on putting in a good block of games.

“I’d love to win as many games as possible in the last block of games,” he said.

“A lot of what we’ve done this year has been with a bit of an eye on next year and the years after.”

Saturday’s victory was the first senior win for Shepparton’s Lachlan Rumbiolo, Charles Hancock and Max Brodie.

It also further proved something the Bears had already identified — when the side plays well without the ball in hand, they play good football.

On the other side of things Shepparton United will be disappointed to not take any points from the game.

Liam Serra put in a good shift for United, as did Robbie Mifka and Adam Pigatto.