Wodonga Raiders’ winless start to the Ovens and Murray season continued with a 30-point loss to Lavington on Saturday night.
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Panthers veteran Matt Pendergast led the way with a trademark performance in the midfield as Lavington ran away winners 18.17 (125) to 15.5 (95).
Sam Harris and Tom Yensch each kicked three goals for the Panthers with spearhead Adam Prior (two) well held by athletic Raiders defender Tom Sharp.
Todd Bryant, who was on crutches a week earlier, overcame an ankle injury to feature prominently for the Raiders, who slip to 0-3 with the defeat.
The Panthers started strongly, kicking the first three goals of the match inside 12 minutes.
The Raiders steadied the ship to trail by only two points at the first change and they led 20 seconds into the second term when Steve Jolliffe marched into an open goal.
The teams traded goals for the second term, with Lavington taking a one-point lead into half-time before exploding into action after the break.
Pendergast was outstanding in the middle of the ground while Yensch and Brant Dickson (two goals) formed an effective partnership in the ruck and up forward.
The Raiders didn’t help their own cause with at least four turnovers in defence directly leading to Lavington goals.
Jake Uslar (three goals) and Jolliffe gave the Raiders a sniff early in the last quarter, closing the gap to 15 points, but goals to Pendergast and Harris put the result beyond doubt.
“Our leaders stood up in the second half and we were able to get the game on our terms and finish off that good work,” Lavington coach James Saker said.
“We started okay but we just struggled to be consistent with our effort in the first half and against a good side, which Raiders are, we got exposed when we had lapses.
“I thought ‘Penda’ really stood up late in the second quarter and in the second half, he really willed himself into it and took a few with him.
“Raiders are better than 0-3. They really did their homework on us and that probably adds a bit more merit to our ability to shake them off.
“We’ve hit the scoreboard really well again but we’ve given them some really easy goals as well so that’s something we have to work on.”
