CAPITALISING on momentum when they had it - that was the key for the Bathurst Bushrangers as they posted a 15-11-105 to 6-3-39 AFL Central West victory over the Bathurst Giants on Saturday.
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While the scoreboard at the end of the round five match showed a comfortable win for the Bushrangers at George Park 1, co-coach Tim Hunter admitted there were times when the Giants were on top of his side.
The difference was the Bushrangers were able to convert more of their inside 50s into points in the testing, wet conditions.
"It was funny little game played in some pretty bad conditions with half the ground under water, but we were impressed with the win, people really stuck at it," Hunter said.
"I think to their credit, they probably had as many good patches as us. I know the score blew out at the end, but they did have plenty of patches to be honest.
"Us capitalising on the chances we had was really important, there were patches where we kicked three and four in a row and made the most of our time with the footy."
Play in the opening term was tight and while the Bushrangers took the lead, the Giants were still in contact at 3-4-22 to 2-1-13.
But in the second quarter a 10-minute period in which the Bushrangers booted four majors put them well in control at 7-7-49 to 3-1-19.
Giants coach Mark Kennedy knew those lapses were what prevented his side from getting closer to the undefeated competition leaders.
But that the Giants managed to at times restrict the Bushrangers - a side which has booted almost 200 points more than any other side over the opening five rounds - was a positive.
"There were only two quarters that they got away from us, the second quarter and the last quarter when you look at the score breakdowns, other than that it was pretty good," Kennedy said.
"But even that second quarter, it was 10 minutes of that quarter where they kicked four goals and we held them scoreless for the rest of that quarter.
"Our main objective for the game was to shorten up the margin from the last time we played them and we did that. I put it to them for the third quarter, I said let's put the end score out of the equation now and go and give it everything.
"We came close to winning that quarter - we were three goals one to their four goals three."
That third quarter was the Giants' best of the match, but the Bushrangers still managed to increase their lead to 35 points.
In the final term the Bushrangers cemented the result as they restricted their rivals to just a single behind while adding four goals two to their tally.
Hunter was pleased with the effort, singling out Adam Ryan and Sam Kennedy for their performances.
"Adam Ryan was one of the guys who played his first game of the year in first grade this week and geeze he was impressive," he said.
"He started forward and kicked a couple of goals, then went into the midfield. He's a really good wet weather player Ryano, he was fantastic for us throughout the game.
"Sam Kennedy, it was his 100th and it was probably one of the better games I've seen him play - he was fantastic.
"He did the team stuff, chased the tackle and played his role really well, that's what Sammy is all about. To his credit, his football has come so far and he's just an integral part of that team now."
The win has the Bushrangers in prime position to claim the minor premiership, but over the four remaining rounds there are other goals the squad is striving for as well. One is trying to maintain their intensity across the entire four quarters.
"While it was a good win, we still didn't play the full four quarters, there were patches, those drop off moments are still something we've got to work on," he said. "What is really impressive is that the boys are really into the season, everyone is trying to improve in every game - that's the best thing about it."
Though the Giants are on the bottom of the ladder after the Orange Tigers upset the Dubbo Demons on the same afternoon, Kennedy feels his side can still push for a top-two spot.
"The score doesn't show it, but I don't think we are that far away with the players I have available now. Like that game Reilly Mitchell was out with an ankle injury, James was out with an ankle injury, Nic Broes was out, Derryn Clayton was out, Damian Cuff was out.
"I think the bottom three are quite close - Bushrangers are going to be the benchmark side this year - but with the rest who knows? Anything can happen on the day."
As for the Giants best performers against the Bushrangers, Ryan Cooke claimed the players' player award, Tim French was solid in the middle while Sam Sloan and Dylan Furnell had some good moments inside 50. But the coach had two players he offered special praise.
"Jacob Molkentin, he just does everything we ask of him on the ground. We put a tracker on him and he ran 10.27 kays, to run over 10 kays in a game of footy on a losing side, that is awesome," Kennedy said.
"The other one is Bailey Brien, he leads by example in the middle and gives it 100 percent every time he goes out there."
