A TIRING North Ballarat escaped with the points against Casey Scorpions in the Victorian Football League in Ballarat yesterday.
Although the Selkirk Roosters had 16 points to spare in bringing up their fifth consecutive win, Casey did get close enough to provide a minor scare.
North Ballarat head coach Gerard FitzGerald said there were signs of tiredness among his players going into the last quarter.
He said he could see they were going to struggle, but remained hopeful that with one more big effort their 39-point lead would be enough.
Casey finished all over North Ballarat in the last quarter - 3.7 to 0.2 - but not for the first time in the match the Melbourne-aligned Scorpions' inaccuracy cost them dearly as the final scoreline of 15.12 (102) to 11.20 (86) indicated.
It was a scrappy affair at the Mountain High Easter Oval.
FitzGerald paid credit to the way Casey closed down the Roosters, which at their best have one of the better running games in the competition.
"They were well coached by Peter German.
"They did a lot of homework on us," he said.
The Scorpions played a close, hard checking style - giving North Ballarat little room to move in a physically tough affair and jumping on any indecision by the home combination.
At the end of the day though, the four premiership points belonged to North Ballarat, which is now second to the undefeated Williamstown.
They meet a in top-of-the-table clash at Williamstown on Sunday.
North Ballarat set up the win with a seven-goal opening quarter.
Although play was congested, the Roosters used the ball much better when they went forward and opened up a 29-point break, which was to be the difference.
Casey had plenty of opportunities, but a 4.8 second quarter ensured it was still chasing.
Tall forward Josh Smith was prominent near goal and further up the ground as the Roosters modified their structure, while Corey Jones was again prominent in attack.
Orren Stephenson was a tower of strength dropping back in defence, while Steve Clifton, Cruize Garlett, Cam Richardson and Myles Sewell worked to find space through the midfield.
North Ballarat 7.4 11.4 15.10 15.12-102
Casey Scorpions 2.3 6.11 8.13 11.20-86
North Ballarat
Goal Kickers: J. Smith 3, B. Driscoll 2, C. Jones 2, C. Richardson 2, M. Sewell, B. Goodes, M. White, M. Wundke, S. Clifton, T. Cartledge
Best Players: J. Smith, S. Moloney, C. Garlett, O. Stephenson, S. Clifton, C. Jones
Casey Scorpions
Goal Kickers: D. Hughes 2, D. Bell 2, K. Cheney, K. Matthews, M. Jamar, R. McGough, J. Wall, M. Newton, N. Jetta
Best Players: M. Jamar, D. Bell, J. Wall, A. Silvagni, S. Valenti, L. Dunn
