Sport
24 August, 2024
Rats withstand pressure in win against rival Warriors | WFNL round 18
Ararat kicked six first-quarter goals at Alexandra Oval.
WFNL Football
Ararat
Ararat co-coaches Tom Mills and Tom Williamson were pleased with how their side stood up to pressure in a 15.15 (105) - 10.10 (70) victory against the Stawell Warriors in round 18 of the WFNL on Saturday, August 24.
It was really pleasing [with how we coped]; in previous weeks, we've sort of shut up shop and gone into our shells when teams have pressured us," Mills said.
"But to see us withstand it and then put a bit of fight back against it the other way, it's really pleasing."
The Rats got off to a fast start with the breeze and booted six first-quarter goals, and Williamson was pleased with how Ararat won the ball on the inside.
"We knew it was a pretty strong breeze, so we had to capitalise while we could. We got some really good wins out of centre clearance, and [from] stoppages, we were on top early," Williamson said.
"So we had a good amount of ball into Jack [Ganley], Millsy [Mills], and myself, and we were able to hit the scoreboard."
Ben Taylor converted a long set shot for the Rats inside the opening two minutes after multiple efforts from Mills kept the football in the forward half.
The Warriors replied with its first after 20 minutes.
Williamson kicked two of Ararat's six first-quarter goals as the home side led by 34 points at the first change.
Cody Driscoll added Stawell's first goal with the breeze after 90 seconds of the second term.
Mills soon replied with his second.
Stawell kicked three of the last four goals as the margin was 16 points at the long break.
The Warriors got a crucial goal against the breeze through Sam Williams to open the third term.
However, the Rats responded minutes later.
Williamson and Mills kicked the last two goals of the quarter as Ararat led by 32 points at the last change.
After Stawell kicked the first two goals of the final term, the Rats replied with four of the last six as it secured the 35-point win.
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Sam Clyne and ruck Cody Bryan featured in the best.
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