BOROONDARA Thunder locked up back-to-back wins in the M-League Premier Men’s competition last week with a 61-44 victory over Ariels. After defeating Netblacks in a nail-biting one-goal victory in Round 7, the Thunder backed it up with a memorable 17-goal win over Ariels. The victories kept the Thunder’s finals hopes alive as the competition approaches the midpoint of the season.

The Thunder started out strong, scoring 15 goals to nine in the opening term to set up a six-goal buffer at the first break. David Chisholm fired off 10 goals from 14 chances in an accurate display, and though Brayden Pastore was shaky early – scoring one of his first four attempts – the goal attack registered five goals for the quarter.

Ariels made a chance at goal attack for the second term, bringing on Ben Gosbell to replace Josh Clavarino. That seemed to set up Dan Stone more, with the latter scoring seven goals from eight attempts in the quarter. The Ariels still lost the quarter however, with the Thunder outscoring them 12-11. Taurin Eimermacher‘s work in wing attack was superb, and it was the Ariels centre in Wade Aitken keeping the trailing side in the game.

That would only be temporary though, as the Thunder put the foot down in the third term, piling on 19 goals to 11, shooting at an elite 95 per cent. Chisholm shot 14 of 15, with Eimermacher key in feeding it through, and a move of Hadley Dixon into centre helped reduce the impact Aitken was having on the match. The Ariels struggled against the scoring power of the Thunder, who went into the final break 46-31 up.

The game might have been done and dusted, but the Thunder kept at it, with Chisholm scoring another nine goals – albeit missing three of his last five shots – as Boroondara put up 15 goals from 22 attempts. Ariels greater accuracy in the final term helped, shooting 13 of 15, but it was a case of too little, too late and the Thunder enjoyed a big 17-goal victory. Eimermacher was deemed best on court just ahead of Pastore, while Aitken battled hard in defeat. Chisholm finished with 42 goals for the winners, while Stone put up 26 for the losers.

Meanwhile top of the table City Heat continued their undefeated streak in the Men’s Premier competition, defeating Altona Falcons by 11 goals on Court 2. The Heat had a fight on their hands in the first half, leading by just two goals at the main break. A 15 goals to nine third term – spearheaded by 12 goals from Cameron Allum – helped the Heat blow the lead out to nine by the last change, and eventually get up, 55-44. Allum was the star of the show with 40 goals, while Josh Byron was critical in defence. Zac Mabilia tried hard for the Falcons in centre for three quarters.

Finally, St Therese managed to gradually shake off last placed Darebin Dragons to the tune of 16 goals. The reigning premiers lead by a couple of goals at quarter time, but scored 14 goals to eight in the second, and then won by three and five goals in the third and fourth quarters respectively to post a 52-36 victory. Harrison Lefebure was the best-on in centre, while Ronan Pring‘s work in the defensive goal circle for St Therese did not go unnoticed. Finlay Gustus came on at quarter time and rallied in centre for Darebin.

M-LEAGUE PREMIER MEN’S ROUND 8 RESULTS:

Boroondara Thunder (61) defeated Ariels (44)
City Heat (55) defeated Altona Falcons (44)
St Therese (52) defeated Darebin Dragons 36)