Lancaster flexed its considerable muscle at the weekend in its Kyabram District League football clash against Tallygaroopna, recording a triple-figure victory for the second consecutive week.
Making the trip to Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve, the Wombats were a class above from the opening bounce, cruising to a 21.15 (141) to 5.8 (38) victory.
A punishing seven-goal opening term – while keeping the Redlegs goalless – saw the visitors lead by 44 points at the first break, a lead that became 84 points at half-time following another seven goals to Tallygaroopna’s one in the second term.
Scoring slowed in the second half, however, the Wombats still added seven goals to four to extend the margin to the eventual 103 points, a welcome sign of form ahead of a huge challenge this weekend.
Lancaster will take on undefeated Murchison-Toolamba in a huge first versus second clash this weekend, which despite the billing of top two sides in the competition, has the feeling of a David v Goliath battle.
Meanwhile, the reigning premier has continued to trundle along at a brutal pace, with struggling Merrigum becoming the latest in a long line of Murchison-Toolamba victims.
The Hoppers held the Bulldogs scoreless for the first three quarters and goalless for the game, en route to a mammoth 31.19 (205) to 0.2 (2) victory.
Returns of seven and six goals in the first and second quarter, respectively, was an impressive start by the home side, which led by 92 points at half-time, but it was the third term where the Hoppers blew the margin out to video game-like numbers.
All while keeping the opposition to no score, Murchison-Toolamba fired 10.5 through the sticks in the third quarter, extending the margin by 65 to lead by 157 at the final change of ends, capping the contest with another huge haul of eight straight in the fourth quarter to win by an eventual 203 points.
Lachy Seddon was the best for the Hoppers in the bloodbath, followed by Aaron Miller (three goals), while James Lloyd closed closer to the magical 100-goal threshold with a bag of 12, his second double digit haul in the past three weeks.
Luke Jones, Ashton Cashion and James Milne rounded out the best, while Callum Miller (five goals) and Leigh Wellington (four goals) had notable contributions on the scoresheet.
Elsewhere, Rushworth solidified its finals chances with a big win over Violet Town, recording a comfortable 18.14 (122) to 8.10 (58) win at Ironbark Stadium and jumping to the top of the pack that is contesting the last few spots inside the top six on the ladder.
The Tigers burst out of the blocks with a six-goal-to-two first term to lead by 24 points at the first change, a lead they would extend at every subsequent break to run out 64-point winners, putting a game and a significant chunk of percentage between themselves in fifth and seventh-placed Avenel.
Jac Barrett was named Rushworth’s best, closely followed by Ethan Arnold, while Thomas Stevens (four goals), Nicholas Oaten (two goals), Andrew Clarke (two goals) and Tighe Clarke (one goal) were also influential.
Girgarre came from the clouds in its contest against Undera, earning a remarkable come-from-behind victory away from home.
Playing at Undera Recreation Reserve, the Roos took a three-point lead into the first break, however, trailed by 10 points at half-time as the home side began to get on top of the contest, booting four goals to two in the second term to lead 33 to 23 at the main break.
Undera managed to push the margin out once again in the third term, keeping Girgarre to a solitary major while adding two of its own to lead by three straight kicks with a quarter to play, which looked likely to be enough in a low-scoring encounter.
But the Roos found a spark, almost doubling their score to that point with a huge 4.5 final term, while Undera mustered a single goal, handing Girgarre a remarkable 8.11 (59) to 8.6 (54) victory, having trailed by 18 points at the final change.
Billy Barnes and Steven Phillips split the goal-kicking equally for the Roos, slotting four each, while Riley Morris was named best-on-ground in the stirring win.
Shepparton East kept hold of third spot on the ladder following a 13.9 (87) to 6.10 (46) victory over Avenel at Avenel Recreation Reserve, with Jayden Dhosi booting three goals as best afield for the Eagles in the 41-point win.
Nagambie and Stanhope faced off in the weekend’s sole Sunday fixture, with the result unavailable at time of print, while Longwood had the bye.