Gippsland Power’s Brett Dore booted three goals in the side’s fourpoint weekend loss to the Northern Knights.AT first glance, Gippsland Power would appear to be unlucky to go down by four points against Northern Knights at Morwell last Saturday. But, despite having six more scoring shots than the Knights, the Power was lucky to get that close.
The Knights were playing for a place in the finals and were in excellent form from the first bounce. The Power was on the back foot all day in the face of consistent and dogged pressure at every contest.
When pressure was applied the Power reverted to poor and often selfish play and had minimal contributions from several key players when it mattered. By the first change the Power trailed by six points but could have been further behind.
In the second quarter the Knights struck first and kicked telling goals as a result of turnovers in attack. The normally rigid Power defence was in disarray, but the Power players lifted their work rate and attacked with more purpose and grabbed a twopoint lead and before the long break.
In the opening minutes of the third term the Power appeared to have lifted in intensity, but again began to falter under pressure and the Knights kicked easy rebound goals. The Power rallied and began to kick goals the lead was 11 points with a quarter to go.
But the Knights seized the initiative at the start of the term and kicked two quick goals due to poor Power defence, then held off a late challenge to seal their win.
Scores: Northern Knights 15.4.94 d Gippsland Power 13.12.90.
Goals: Ben Fraser 4, Brett Dore 3, Dale Thomas 2, Zac Vansittart, Ricky Delphine, Nathan Lieshout, Tommy Johnson 1.
