Weekly Times | A 124-POINT win in the final round of the Heathcote District league season was not enough for North Bendigo to hold on to the minor premiership.
The Bulldogs were ahead of Leitchville-Gunbower by less than 1 per cent on the ladder going into the final round on Saturday.
North Bendigo hosted Huntly and romped home, 26.19 (175) to 7.9 (51), a far cry from its seven-point win against the Hawks in Round 9.
But unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Leitchville-Gunbower fared even better in Round 18.
The Bombers’ 33.12 (210) to 6.10 (46) win away against another finalist, Elmore — their biggest victory for the season — put them on top of the table, booking a week off and a place in the second semi-final on August 20.
Leitchville-Gunbower president Noel Gundry said it was the best four-quarter performance this season.
He said it was a team effort, headlined by a 15-goal haul between Daniel Coates and Ayden Walton, but Gundry also tipped his hat to the back six of Kieran Treacy, Ryan Prendergast, Steve Pretty, Will Brereton, Jackson McEwen and Drew Bartram.
“We knew we had to win well, and limit Elmore’s scoring because it was more about restricting their scoring to get a higher percentage,” Gundry said.
“We were monitoring North’s score so we knew where we were at all day. It was always going to be tight.”
But North Bendigo should take plenty of confidence into the qualifying final — a rematch against Huntly.
Leitchville-Gunbower lost its first two games this year to North Bendigo and Colbinabbin, but has won the past 14 in a row.
It also finished minor premier last season and won straight into the grand final, only to lose to North Bendigo by 10 points.
The Bulldogs had beaten Leitchville-Gunbower in the final round, the Bombers’ first loss of the season to that point.
The Bombers’ last premiership was in 1995.