COROWA-Rutherglen clinched some important breathing space in the battle for football’s most unwanted prize in downing Wangaratta Rovers by 14 points at the WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday.
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The Roos began the round in last spot with the spectre of claiming their first wooden since 1988 looming large.
But in pocketing a crucial four points, which was sealed by the last two goals of the match, the Roos jumped to eighth spot.
It has left the Hawks and Myrtleford to battle out another pivotal late season contest next round that will provide some clarity around the spoon recipient.
The Hawks, who haven’t claimed a wooden spoon since their O and M debut season in 1950, started the match like a finals contender to lead by 26 points at quarter time.
The absence of skipper Tyson Hartwig wasn’t a factor as the Hawks attacked through the corridor and had five different goal-kickers.
The shellshocked Roos registered their only goal at the 20-minute mark as the Hawks laid 18 tackles in the opening term.
Whatever Roos coach Bryce Campbell said at quarter time struck an immediate chord with his players.
Two quick goals at the start of the second term and they were back in the hunt with Campbell, Sam Carpenter and Hayden Singe gaining an edge in the midfield.
The half-time margin was reduced to eight points, but the Roos revival was temporarily halted as Dylan Stone sparked the Rovers with two early goals in the third term.
Corowa-Rutherglen responded with some of its most impressive play of the season in kicking seven unanswered goals to turn a 20-point deficit into a 22-point three quarter time lead.
The Roos had sparks all over the ground with Jimmy Svarc booting three goals in succession, Lee Schmidt kicking a contender for goal of the year from an impossible angle and Chris Marshall pushing forward and kicking a rare goal.
The elusive Svarc finished with five goals as did Luke Gestier.
The Hawks could have been in further trouble without the contributions of Sean O’Keeffe, Dale Martin and Ryan Cobain.
The Roos defence led by Al Austin and Kade Kuschert bordered on impenetrable with the duo’s intercept marking — five each for the game — and poise under pressure a highlight.
The match still had one last twist in the final quarter with the Hawks closing to three points.
But Campbell had a crucial hand in the final two goals which sealed the win.
“Our contested footy was way down at quarter time and it was the main thing we addressed,” he said.
“Once we did that we started to play some good footy.
“The boys showed a lot of character because it is not much fun when you aren’t winning.”
Hawks coach Paul Maher lamented the fadeout after a promising opening quarter.
