General News
8 May, 2019
Woorndoo Mortlake claims biggest scalp
WOORNDOO Mortlake’s victory over Wickliffe-Lake Bolac had club officials searching through their record books last Saturday.
WOORNDOO Mortlake’s victory over Wickliffe-Lake Bolac had club officials searching through their record books last Saturday.
According to many within the club, the Tigers had not beaten the Magpies for up to 20 years, although that drought is now broken after they recorded a 9.7 (61) to 7.15 (57) triumph.
Coach Damien Pemberton said the win had supporters and past players in jubilant spirits for the first time in many years.
“It was a pretty emotional day on Saturday because it’s been so long since we’ve beaten them,” he said.
“It was very heartfelt in many ways and it was good to actually beat a side that hasn’t been beaten for a long time.
“I think it just gives the boys and the club a lot of belief that we are capable of beating these top sides.”
Pemberton said the victory also now proved to the Tigers that they would be on notice to the rest of the competition.
“It gives us a good guide on where we are at,” he said.
“As long as we don’t be happy with just that (one win), we’ve got to keep pushing forward because it’s a long season.
“Now every other club is looking at us and will be wanting to chase us, so we have to respond to that.”
Pemberton said it was again hard to pick best players in the victory, but he credited his back six, Matthew Fidge, Matthew Pemberton and Luke Kensit for their efforts.
“Guys like Sam Gervasoni, Tom Gough and Cam Howland and Tim Ackerley have been great for us (in defence),” he said.
“We had to bring in big Moxy (Fidge), he had to take on big Spacy (Brad Keilar) and we knew he would be up for a bit of a tough ask but he played well.
“And through the midfield, Matty Pemberton and Luke Kensit played well.”
The Tigers are now preparing for a clash with Penshurst, a side which Pemberton said will be “hard to beat”.
He said he did not want his players to get caught up in the aftermath of what they achieved last weekend, adding they must put it aside and continue to build against the Bombers.
“Our last win was our last win, we’ve got to keep pushing forward and progressing because it’s a long season,” he said.
In the reserves, Woorndoo Mortlake recorded a 48 point victory, with Mitch Walsh, Brodie Heron, Rhys Casson, Peter Harmes, Tim MacDonald and Grant Cameron all named in the best players.