Harcourt welcomed Talbot to the den last Saturday in Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League round 10 competition.
After a loss to Carisbrook in round eight and a narrow victory over Trentham in round nine, the Harcourt side were determined to produce some of their early season form against fellow top eight side Talbot.
Harcourt made a promising start kicking five goals to two in the opening stanza and held a 20-point lead at the first change.
The second term proved to be a much more even affair with Talbot working hard to contain Harcourt’s fire-power and both sides kicking a goal apiece for the term.
At the long break the Lions led by 26 points.
The battle continued in a tightly fought third term with Harcourt kicking another 2.2 to the Hawks 1.2 with the Lions moving out to a 32-point advantage going into the final term.
However, Harcourt’s class shone through in the fourth term with the side doubling their tally kicking another eight unanswered goals to run out winners by 85 point and leave their opponents shell-shocked.
Final scores were Harcourt 5.4, 6.11, 8.13, 16.18 (114) to Talbot 2.2, 3.3, 4.5, 4.5 (29).
Goal kickers for Harcourt were Jed Rodda 5, Sam Gale 3, Barry Hall, Tom Stefaniw, Jeffrey McMurtrie 2, Kaine Davidson and Thomas Walters.
Best for Harcourt were Alex Code, Jordan Gartside, Chris McLean, Brayden Frost, Darby Semmens and Jed Rodda.
The win sees the Lions now sitting in fourth spot behind ladder leaders Trentham, Carisbrook and Natte Bealiba.
Maldon made the journey to Natte Bealiba and were hopeful of a strong performance against the top four side following their dominant win over Avoca the previous week.
However, Natte had other ideas with Danny Brewster 7, Will Holt 4 and Trent Mortlock 4 leading the side to another convincing win.
The Swans smashed through six unanswered goals in the first term to lead by 41 points at quarter time.
Natte went on with the job in the second quarter kicking another 10 goals to 1.
Maldon lifted in the third and managed a couple of goals to bolster the side but the Swans kept on finding the goals with another eight for the term and led by 136 points at three quarter time.
To their credit Maldon held their heads high and kicked another two goals in the last quarter but the Natte finished strongly kicking another five to post a percentage boosting 157 point win.
Final scores Natte Bealiba 6.5, 16.8, 24.12, 29.15 (189) to Maldon 0.0, 1.2, 3.2, 5.2 (32).
Goal kickers for Maldon were Hayden Kelly, Brett Cole 2 and Bryce Coffey.
Best for Maldon were Hayden Kelly, David Wilson, Billy Miller, Bryce Coffey, Callum Cross and Matthew Gray.
Campbells Creek welcomed Newstead in a local derby at the Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
Newstead started well kicking five goals to one to lead by 26 points at the end of the opening term.
To their credit Campbells Creek lifted in the second quarter forcing some errors and kicking 2.2 to the Roos 2.4 for the term.
After regrouping at half time the Steaders came out and doubled their score banging through another seven goals to two to lead by 59 points at the final change.
Despite the best efforts of the home side Newstead continued to dominate in the final term kicking another 10 unanswered goals to win by 121 points.
Newstead’s Dillon Hinge was unstoppable kicking 10 for the day.
Final scores were Campbells Creek 1.1, 3.3, 5.3, 5.4 (34) to Newstead 6.3, 7.7, 14.8, 24.11 (155).
The win sees Newstead sitting just outside the eight.
Goal kickers for Campbells Creek were Kyle Gellatly 3, Tyson Williams and Craig Davies.
Best for Campbells Creek were Brodie Burke, Dylan Stevens, Kyle Gellatly, Ryley Mills, Matthew Manning and Kristopher Bagley.
Goal kickers for Newstead were Dillon Hinge 10, Sam Reece 4, Joel Smith, Oscar Lynzaat, Rhys Smith 2, Jedd Pedretti, Kieran Sait, Mason James and Aidan McConachy.
Best for Newstead were Rhys Smith, Dillon Hinge, Sam Reece, Jedd Pedretti, Adam Hunter and Alex Murphy.
In other matches Avoca went down to Carisbrook, Maryborough Rovers lost to Navarre and Dunolly defeated Royal Park in a tight contest.