MOYHU'S aspirations of back-to-back premierships received another shot in the arm on Saturday as the Hoppers held off a fast finishing Tarrawingee by 16 points.
Given it was the grand final rematch there was always going to be plenty of feeling, and spot fires broke out as players lifted their attack on both the ball and the man.
But the odd scuffle didn't break the focus of either side, with the first half playing out like an arm wrestle between two heavyweights.
Just three points the difference at halftime, the Hoppers came out with the aim of kicking the ball longer and more direct after the break, and it worked.
Moyhu piled on 7.6 to Tarrawingee's 3.1 to extend its lead to 32 points at three quarter time.
The Bulldogs have proven themselves to be a team that is more than capable of rising from the jaws of defeat to snatch victory, however, and they showed it once again with a mighty final quarter effort.
But ultimately it wasn't enough, with the Hoppers hanging on to record a hard-earned 14.15 (99) to 13.5 (83) win.
Coach John McNamara labelled the match "a pretty tough affair", and was happy to come away with the four points, regardless of the margin.
"It was pretty similar to the grand final in the first half very close," McNamara said.
"We over-possessed the ball a bit in the first half, and we just wanted to move it a bit more quickly in the second.
"We got out to a lead of 28 points halfway through the last quarter, but we always knew they were going to come back at us.
"In the end though we had around double their scoring shots, so it was a very pleasing win."
In the lead up to the match Tarrawingee coach Finton Eames made no secret of his plan to shut down Moyhu forwards Jeremy Wilson and Scott Thomson.
It worked, with the pair contributing only five goals between them, but McNamara said the Hoppers' depth allowed them to still kick a winning score.
"I thought they targeted Jeremy a little bit, but he still popped up with four goals," he said.
"But to kick 14.15 without those two dominating was excellent.
"We've always had a number of players who can chip in and kick goals, with the likes of Jaimon (McGeehan), (Nathan) Waite and Ryan Craig."
The Hoppers have now beaten two teams that appear certainties to play finals this year, with McNamara lauding the efforts of his defenders.
"The backline was excellent," he said.
"(Andrew) Balfour, Leroy Dowling, (Justin) Gervasoni they did a great job.
"And we laid 60 tackles, which was very pleasing.
"At the start of the year most people were talking about Tarrawingee and Greta as top four sides, so to have beaten them both and know we still have a fair bit of improvement in us is a great way to start the season."
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
www.nenews.com.au
ON THE RUN: Moyhu ruckman Fraser Dent-Ould shoots out a handpass during the first quarter of Saturday's clash with Tarrawingee.
PHOTO: Cheryl Browne
Last Modified on 16/04/2012 20:44