Gippsland Times | ROSEDALE held off a fast-finishing Traralgon-Tyers United to claim a three-point victory to conclude North Gippsland football's split round.
The Bombers looked on song to steal an unlikely victory on Sunday at home. Trailing the second-placed Blues by five goals midway through the second term, the home side clicked into gear leading by seven points at half-time.
The Blues held on to win 9.7 (61) to 8.10 (58).
Taking 38 minutes to kick their first goal of the match, the Bombers were sublime during the second term, booting six straight. The Blues found themselves on the receiving end of what they dished up earlier.
In wet conditions, the Blues kicked three unanswered goals to lead by 17 points at the first break. The visitors continued their dominance around the contest and made the most of their chances in front of goal with Rohan Diamond scoring. The lead quickly stretching out to five goals before the Bombers bit back at the 10 minute mark. Chase Saunders got his side off and running with the flashy goal sneak kicking the first of a flood of majors.
Brian Graham was busy trying to set his side up, roving the loose ball in the goal square to snap true.
Stephen Hawkins was at it minutes later, his goal set-up by the hard work of Haydn 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 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 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 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 was among the scorers as the Blues wrestled back the lead kicking to the favoured scoring end.
With the Blues leading by three points at the final change, TTU missed two shots in the early stages of the final term before the Blues broke through.
Neagle was an early casualty helped off the ground with a leg injury, while Blues coach Ben Macreadie hobbled off in the opening minutes of the term before returning to the field.
Hawkins slotted through his second to bring the Bombers back to within a kick. The Blues would come again, a strong mark to Macreadie 10m 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, Graham, Hector and Saunders 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. The loss proved costly with the Bombers sliding to fifth position.
Demons surge
YARRAM was forced to work hard for victory against Gormandale.
The Demons were unable to shake off the Tigers during a tight first half with both sides going into the sheds with scores level.
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 they remain in the hunt with the competition's front runners.
The Tigers led by two points following 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 kicked six to take his season tally to 36.
During the second term, the Tigers pressured their higher ranked opponent into making errors and capitalised on the scoreboard with Joe Colaciello booting two for the quarter.
Yarram stamped its authority on the contest during the third quarter. Slowly building momentum, the Demons, through Sutherland, Ryan Underwood and Tyler Chisholm, kicked away with a four-goal to one quarter.
Grif Underwood led the charge around the ground, Chris Pettit shut down the Tigers' key forwards, Lukas Jenkins worked hard to negate the home side's ruck stocks with Sutherland and Chisholm notable performers.
Jarryd Gilroy stood-out for Gormandale, while Brendan Solomon continued his strong season showing.
Roos too good
HEYFIELD wrapped up its game against eighth-placed Cowwarr by half-time.
Booting seven goals to two in the opening term, the Kangaroos continued their dominance in the second to lead by 10 goals at the long break.
Boasting nine goal scorers, James Beha was the most influential player in the forward line for the Kangaroos. The forward was pivotal in his side's 19.11 (125) to 8.7 (55) victory, finishing with seven majors, while coach Adrian Cox booted three.
As steady rain fell in the second half, the Saints outscored the home side in the third term before fading away in the final stanza, when they were held goal-less.
Heyfield's Kodie Woodland was best-on-ground 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 solid contributors. Linden Brunt booted three majors.
