A THIRD loss from its past four matches saw the Wangaratta Rovers’ finals hopes disintegrate at the weekend, with the Hawks simply not good enough to get over the line at Yarrawonga’s JC Lowe Oval as the Pigeons claimed a seven-point win.

At various stages the Pigeons appeared likely to cruise to a comfortable victory, but the Hawks’ will to stay alive kept them in the contest throughout the match.

Yarrawonga opened strongly with four early goals, but the Hawks soon hit back to reduce their deficit to just eight points at the first change.

Defender Matt Wollington kept the Pigeons on top, picking up a raft of possessions and rebounding from the home side’s back 50 time after time.

Still, the Hawks persisted, with Andy Hill again doing his best work at the stoppages, helping to feed the ball forward to Peter Cristoforo, who was a welcome sight in attack in the absence of injured duo Jesse Silver and Jake Plattfuss.

The second quarter was another tight affair, with the Pigeons again outscoring the visitors by a goal to take a 15-point lead into the halftime break.

The margin could have been greater, but for some inspirational work from Hill and Marcus Webb.

Along with Nigel Hill and Shane Gaston, the pair continued to clear the ball during the latter stages of the second term, reeling the Pigeons back after star midfielder Xavier Leslie kicked two early goals to give Yarrawonga breathing space.

As the third quarter opened it was all Yarrawonga, with ruckman Kyle Archibald, Scott Oswald and Leslie firing, allowing the Pigeons to open a five-goal lead.

The Hawks gradually got going again, managing three goals for the term, but at the last change the match appeared shot, with the Pigeons carrying a 28-point lead into the final quarter.

With their backs against the wall the Hawks lifted for one more charge.

The defensive heroics of Tyson Hartwig and Anthony Tucci stifled the Yarrawonga forwards, while Andy Hill and Luke Elkington dropped back to add further resolve.

The Hawks looked set to pull off an unlikely victory when they fired through three goals in as many minutes, but it wasn’t to be, as the Pigeons held fast for a 14.12 (96) to 14.5 (89) win.

Albury’s win over North Albury sees the Hawks drop to seventh on the ladder, now three games outside the top five with just four matches remaining.

While the finals are now out of the question, the Hawks desperately need to finish the year strongly.

Their season has been unfortunately cruelled by injuries to key players, but the biggest disappointment has been a lack of consistency by the players on the field, and the enormous gulf between the Hawks’ best - displayed against Wodonga during a 99-point win in round 10 - and their worst.

Written by - SCOTT ANDERSON.