AFL Central West: Bathurst Bushrangers lift in fourth quarter to claim victory

This time it allowed the Bushrangers to get their revenge against rivals Bathurst Giants on Saturday in their second derby meeting of the AFL Central West men's tier one season, coming away 12-11-83 to 10-6-66 winners at George Park 1.

Bushrangers outscored the Giants four goals to one in the fourth term to turn around the result from the first all-Bathurst affair.

The victors also drew level with Giants on the ladder but occupy first place based on percentage.

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Bushrangers co-coach Tim Hunter said the Bathurst derby once again brought out the best football from both clubs.

"It was a cracking game and a high standard of football from both sides. There were plenty of lead changes but it just sort of went our way at the end," he said.

"They got up towards the end and previously that's been hard for us to come back from but we stayed composed and backed ourselves and we were able to find those couple of late goals to get the win, which was awesome to see."

The teams genuinely went almost goal-for-goal throughout the first three quarters to enter the last period with the Giants ahead 9-4-58 to 8-7-55.

Giants started strongly in the last quarter and threatened to find a winning edge before Bushrangers started to put it all together.

"Both teams had their moments throughout the game but towards the end we started to take our chances," Hunter said.

"We were a little wasteful at the start of the fourth quarter but we stuck at it and started to take a couple of those chances late."

Kolby McMahon led the way for the Bushrangers with five goals while Alex Sparks was the other player to take more than one major, finding three.

McMahon was one of several players Hunter had plenty of praise for.

"Kolby got his chance to play at forward and he's really taken it, because he was phenomenal. He not only scored five goals but his work often goes unnoticed," he said.

"He doesn't often lose a one-on-one contest and he'll at least halve it and bring it to ground. He's had a hand in a few more goals as well. He'll continue to build through the year, and that's exciting.

"Scott Jablonskis got his first crack in the firsts and really stood up. He was great throughout the game with his forward pressure and composure on the ball.

"Matty Archer really stepped up in the last quarter when it was there to be won, as did Harry Bowden, along with our back line as a group."

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