PFNL 2018: Collard boots five as Centrals snap Rockingham’s win streak

Hitting the road for their third straight game away from home, Centrals were undaunted by the task of facing an in-form Rams outfit and put them to the sword for a 9.13 (67) to 17.6 (108) win.

Collard starred with a bag of five, three of which came in a crucial second-quarter run for the Blues.

Spectators looked set for a thriller when just four points separated both sides at the end of the first, but quarter number two saw the visitors break away with a prolific five goal to two term.

Collard nailed his second, third and fourth goals of the day in the second, with Grant Dunn and Daniel Wilson also chipping in on the scoreboard to see the underdogs out to a 21-point lead at the main break.

Jacob Martinez provided plenty around the ground and kept his good form rolling in the third as Centrals piled on a further three goals – two off Wilson’s boot – to lead by more than five goals heading into the final term.

The Rams needed a big push to overcome the deficit in the fourth, and looked good early in the term, but the Mundijong-based outfit refused to allow a comeback.

Collard booted his fifth for the day to kick off Centrals’ run of six goals in the fourth, followed by majors to Thomas Bennett, Dunn, Lee Murray and a pair to Bruno Faulkner.

Fraser Millar finished the day with three next to his name for Rockingham, but it wasn’t enough for the Rams to keep their streak alive as they fell to the tune of 41 points.

The volume of the victory sees Centrals jump South Mandurah on the ladder based on percentage, a deflating thought for Falcons fans given they pulled off their own miraculous upset over Baldivis on the same day.

Centrals now reside in fifth spot, less than a per cent above Souths.