IT'S been a long time coming.
North Wangaratta might have been sitting atop the ladder for the past five weeks, but no one outside the club has been willing to rate the Hawks as a bona fide contender for the Ovens and King Football League flag.
It's true that they enjoyed a very comfortable draw over the first six rounds, and their first match against an opponent sitting in the top third of the ladder coincided with their only loss to date a nine point defeat at the hands of King Valley.
Saturday's 23-point win over Whorouly was a statement the Hawks have arrived.
It wasn't a case of North Wangaratta having a day out or the Lions failing to show up this was a back and forth battle between two of the competition's elite, and both sides came to play.
Throughout the first half the momentum swung wildly, with the forwards of both teams capitalising on periods of dominance from their teammates in the middle of the ground.
Early on it was Kyle Archibald, Adam Pascoe and Luke Elkington setting things up, while full forward Richie Leahy finished off the job.
Leahy was on song from the outset, taking everything that came his way and kicking truly in the calm conditions, and he had his fourth goal on the board just minutes into the second quarter, giving the Lions a 15-point buffer.
But from that point on the Hawks took over.
Jamie Bell, back in the side after serving a one-match suspension, was the driving force in the middle, working tirelessly in the ruck against a trio of opponents in Adam Pascoe, Chas Pianegonda and Archibald.
His brother Ben was also superb, racking up plenty of touches at the stoppages but also doing the one-percenters that enabled the likes of Owen Patterson, Justin Adamo and Andrew Baker to get well on top in the battle of the midfields.
By - Scott Anderson.
www.nenews.com.au
STEER-ING THE SHIP: Hawks coach David Steer urges his charges to go on with the job at three quarter time.
PHOTO: Scott Anderson
Last Modified on 19/06/2012 10:42