CLAREMONT'S tenuous hold on the sixth SFL finals spot suffered another nervous wobble with a crushing 109-point loss to Dodges Ferry at Abbotsfield Park yesterday. With finals challenger Sorell out of action with a bye, Huonville (seventh) missed the chance to move into the six spot when beaten by Kingborough 15.10 (100) to 13.6 (84) at Kermandie. Dodges Ferry opened with a flurry, kicking three goals in the first five minutes and was never challenged, coasting to an effortless 24.10 (154) to 7.6 (45) win. Despite the soft ground, the third-placed Sharks moved the ball with speed and precision and had too much pace and enthusiasm for Claremont. Dodges Ferry coach Danny Ling said the win augured well for the run-in to the finals. ``I thought it was a really good four-quarter effort from us today,'' he said. ``Claremont always give us trouble but they were a bit undermanned today.'' Ling said the win would be a confidence booster for tough matches against the top two sides, Lindisfarne and New Norfolk. ``To be competitive with them we need to have our best side out on the field. ``They are two quality sides and we've got a bit of ground to make up on them but I think we're capable of doing it.'' For Dodges Ferry, Fabian Churchill provided plenty of spark through the middle, ruckman Jamie Curran provided his fleet-footed midfielders with a wealth of possession around the ground and Jeremy Howe made the most of his strong leading and marking to kick six goals at full forward. Dean King and captain Andrew Lockley worked tirelessly in the Claremont defence and coach Ben Atkin played a lone hand up front, kicking four of his side's seven goals. Claremont has a testing fortnight ahead, travelling to Boyer next Saturday for a showdown with ladder leader New Norfolk, before returning to Abbotsfield Park in two weeks for a crucial match with Huonville (seventh). In other matches yesterday New Norfolk posted its 13th consecutive win when it annihilated Brighton 33.20 (228) to 6.6 (42) at Pontville, Lindisfarne crushed Cygnet 19.11 (125) to 8.9 (57) at Cygnet and the Central Hawks thrashed Triabunna 20.16 (136) to 6.4 (40) at Triabunna.
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