THERE was no premiership won at Holloways Beach yesterday, but lowly Cairns City can be forgiven for celebrating like there was considering what they had just achieved.
A few weeks ago, the Lions had not won a game for two seasons.
Now they can brag about knocking off last season’s premiers Manunda, who until yesterday were dreaming of going back to back this year.
That might need to be reassessed after the drilling the visiting Hawks received from a Lions side that will be a real force next season.
The 23.9 (147) to 11.18 (84) win was built around the brilliance of Daniel Lewis (eight goals), but also the work ethic and energy the entire squad brought to the game.
Manunda were missing key players Luke Powell, Lincoln Withers and Willie Aisi, but it was no excuse according to president Richard Martin, who grimaced throughout the contest from the sidelines.
"They wanted to win and I think our boys might have been getting a bit ahead of themselves," he said.
"They’re fuming now and so they should be.
"They need to realise that they have a lot of work to do."
Manunda kicked the first three goals, but the Lions replied with a staggering 10 straight, including a couple from Lewis outside 50m in front of the Hawks’ bench.
He was oozing confidence and his team responded, holding off any sort of comeback to take a 28-point lead into the final quarter.
The game was still there for the Hawks, but a goal to the Lions within five seconds of the centre bounce crushed any remaining resilience.
The home side kicked another seven to ram home the advantage and give past players and members who had been wined and dined in the grandstand something to celebrate.
"We actually went out and won that – we didn’t wait for the opposition to fall over," City coach Jason Roe said.
"They have learned how to win and we’re playing a really entertaining brand of footy."
Roe was happy to exploit a Hawks side he thought looked flat, a claim not disputed by the Hawks president.
"We made lots of mistakes, we weren’t too good," Martin said.
The Hawks have now slipped to outright third behind North Cairns in the race for all-important second spot.
Last Modified on 25/09/2012 11:10