By TOBIE CHAPMAN
STRATHMORE have broken a three-game losing streak to win their first game for the season, running rampant over Airport West by 125 points.
It was a scene of destruction at Lebanon Reserve, as Strathmore dominated from start to finish without relief.
Despite a strong breeze blowing across the ground, Strathmore found it easy to move the ball, constantly sending it into attack.
Danger signs were apparent early, as even without the tall options of previous weeks Strathmore’s forwards were dominating their opponents.
Sam Leech and Matthew Little were playing above their size, claiming numerous marks inside fifty.
Airport West went into the first break trailing by 35 points, but more worryingly was the fact they had yet to register a shot on goal.
Airport West struggled to get their hands on the footy, and on the rare occasion they did they were soon cut off across the half back flank by the ever reliable Mores defence.
The number of entries into their forward 50 was comfortably in single digits, and it took until the 20-minute mark of the second term for them to register their first score, a rushed behind.
Strathmore continued to struggle with accuracy, kicking four behinds in a row to start the second term, but they soon began piling more misery on to lead by 69 points at halftime.
It took them only 28 seconds to open the scoring after the break, but shortly after the Eagles found their first goal through Reece Tompkins.
The game began to descend into an ugly mess, both sides committing a number of skill errors, topped off by a Joshua Helliwell poster from the top of the square.
Despite the quality of football, it was by far Airport West’s best quarter, topped off by a goal on the siren to Damien Cupido.
However, the lead had continued to grow to 85 points.
They kicked the first goal of the last term through Jesse McVeigh, but somehow it soon got even uglier.
The ‘Mores piled on 7.5 to finish off the game, Matthew Little completely dominating the Eagles’ defence, finishing with a big bag of nine.
Strathmore’s attacking prowess finally shone after a disappointing start to the season, with Little, Leech, Karl Staudt and Thomas Gleeson all kicking multiple goals and featuring in the bests.
Despite the dominance in attack, it was an impressive performance from the Strathmore mids as well.
Even with first choice rucks Sean Tighe and Hamish McIntosh out, they dominated clearances throughout the game and their delivery forward was impeccable for most of the day despite challenging conditions.
STRATHMORE | 21.20-146
Goal Kickers: M. Little 9, S. Leech 3, K. Staudt 2, T. Gleeson 2, M. Purcell 2, J. Helliwell, S. Whillas
Best Players: A. Rae, M. Purcell, K. Staudt, M. Corrigan, T. Gleeson, T. Grima
AIRPORT WEST | 3.3-21
Goal Kickers: R. Tompkins, D. Cupido, J. McVeigh
Best Players: J. Formosa, B. Olsson, R. Hackney, M. Nicholas, D. Cupido, R. Tompkins
