On Sunday a fast-finishing TTU looked on song to steal an unlikely victory. Trailing by five goals midway through the second term before clicking into gear in the top of the table clash against second placed ROSEDALE, the Bombers will be rueing the one that got away.

Producing a remarkable second-quarter comeback that in turn reversed a 17 point deficit into a seven point lead, the Bombers were sublime booting six straight with their first major taking some 38 minutes to register.

From that point it was a different Bomber outfit, with the Blues finding themselves on the receiving end of what they dished up from the opening bounce.

In wet and wild conditions an arm-wrestle ensued in the opening term with eight minutes gone on the clock before Rosedale's Corey Beaver slotted through the opening major. It would be the first of three unanswered for the term, with the Bombers no doubt sensing a case of de javu from the sides round three clash which saw the Bombers held goalless in the opening term.

Leading by 17 points at the first break, the Blues continued their dominance around the contest winning the contested footy and making the most of their chances in front of goal with Rohan Diamond scoring. The lead quickly stretching out to five goals straight before the Bombers bit back at the 10 minute mark. Chase Saunders got his side off and running with the flashy goal sneak the first of a flood of majors.

Brian Graham was busy trying to set his side up, he would be on the end of the Bombers second major after roving the loss ball in the goal square to snap true. Stephen Hawkins was at it minutes later his goal set up by the hard work of Hayden Hector across half back as he sent the Bombers forward with poise and precision.

The lift in the Bombers intensity was telling, captain Luke Middleton was leading the charge along with Graham and Hector. Matt Stolarczyk handed Graham his second as the Bombers closed to within two kicks.

Using the boundary as a guide the Blues cautiously and slowly rebounded from defence pushing forward to little avail, as the Bombers back six led by Guy Sinclair charged the ball forward with Rhys Martin snapping to make it a one point ball game.

Winning the centre clearance, Stolarczyk took a solid mark under pressure before combining with coach Jay Neagle whose shot from the 50 metre line scraped through the goals ahead of the long change.

The Bombers scored the opening major of the second half, before Rosedale fought back with three straight Brandon McDonald among the scorers as the Blues wrestled back the lead kicking to the favoured scoring end.

Leading by three points at the final change, the sides went blow for blow. TTU missed two shots in the early stages of the term before the Blues broke through.

Neagle was an early casualty helped off the ground with a leg injury and the same fate went the way of the Blues coach Ben Macreadie when he hobbled from the field in the opening minutes of the term before returning to the field.

Bomber Hawkins slotted through his second, to bring his side back to within a kick. The Blues would come again. A strong mark to Macreadie 10 metres out appeared to be the quick reply, before the umpire deemed it was a point, allowing the door to remain ajar for the Bombers.

As conditions continued to deteriorate, it would be the Bomber trio of Graham, Hector and Saunders that combined to make a last ditch attack to win the contest. Saunders shot on goal fell short of the line, a mark was taken by a Bombers player with a snap at the posts missing.

With the clock counting down on a low scoring term, the Blues held strong to keep their noses in front and record their ninth victory, 9.7 (61) to 8.10 (58).

The loss proving costly with the Bombers sliding to fifth position.

YARRAM were forced to work hard for the points with the Demons unable to shake Gormandale in an arm-wrestle opening half which saw the sides go into the sheds with scores locked at 7.5 (47) at half time.

A two point margin favoured the Tigers at the first change with the sides exchanging blow for blow on the scoreboard in an entertaining eight goal opening term. Gormandale's Jordon Sandy and Yarram's Corbin Sutherland were among the goals early, with Sandy finishing the contest with four while Sutherland was the pick of the goal kickers adding six to his season tally of 36.

The dead lock continued in the second term, the Tigers hunting in packs as they pressured their higher ranked opponent into making errors and capitalised on the scoreboard with Joe Colaciello booting two for the quarter.

With scores locked the tables turned in the premiership term, as Yarram stamped their authority on the contest. Slowly building momentum the Demons through Sutherland, Ryan Underwood and Tyler Chisholm kicked away the sides four goal to one quarter proved telling.

Grif Underwood led the charge in the engine room, Chris Pettit was the architect in defence shutting down the Tigers key forwards, Lukas Jenkins worked hard to negate the home sides ruck stocks with Sutherland and Chisholm notable performers.

The Demons versatile forward line combined magnificently in the second half to set up the comfortable 35 point victory, 15.9 (99) to 9.10 (64), to ensure that the side remains in the hunt with the competitions front runners

Gormandale's Jaryd Gilroy was a standout, Brendan Solomon continued his strong season showing with Sandy's bag of four seeing him among the votes.

HEYFIELD wrapped the game up by half time against eighth placed Cowwarr ahead of steady rain that fell after the main change.

Flying out of the blocks to boot seven goals to two in the opening term, the Kangaroos continued their dominance in the second stanza extending their 31 point quarter time lead to 10 goals at the long break.

Boasting nine individual goal scorers it was James Beha who was the most influential player in the forward line for the Kangaroos. The forward was pivotal in his sides, 19.11 (125) to 8.7 (55), victory Beha finishing the contest with seven majors with coach Adrian Cox making the most of his chances with three.

The Saints started the third term strongly outscoring the home side with a 4.2 (26) to 32 (20) quarter, before fading away in the final stanza as Heyfield's defence held the side goal less.

Heyfield's Kodie Woodland collected the three votes in a best on ground performance which saw him boot two majors, Beha was a telling target up forward and Jesse Bedggood was lively setting up several passages of play.

For the visitors Pat Tainsh was integral in the middle off the ground with Craig Radford and Brett Grieve were solid contributors. Linden Brunt booted three majors.

By Lauren Carey