Bendigo Advertiser | LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower retained its unbeaten status in the HDFNL, but only after surviving a huge scare from third-placed Colbinabbin.
Both sides went into the game without Victoria Country representatives Grant Weeks (Colbinabbin) and Jye Keath (Leitchville), but the absence of star power didn’t detract from the clash between two genuine premiership contenders.
The Bombers trailed at half-time, but their defensive intensity eventually wore down the Grasshoppers in the 10.9 (69) to 8.8 (56) win.
Colbo kicked five goals in the first term, but could only manage three more for the match as it missed an opportunity to virtually seal a double chance for the finals.
“We were confident going into the game that we could win the game because our form had been really good,’’ Colbo coach Phil Morgan said.
“So to go down by 13 points was pretty disappointing because we had our chances.
“In the first 15 minutes of the third quarter we probably had 10 inside 50’s to three and we couldn’t kick a goal, while they kicked two. It was that period of the game that probably hurt us the most.
“The positive out of the game is we know we can compete with Letichville.
“They gave us a bit of a touch up the first time we played them, so we have improved. It would have been really disappointing if we had have been beaten easily.”
Morgan said the Bombers deserved to be rated flag favourites.
“Leitchville is a very good side. They have vey good foot skills and they’re quick,’’ he said.
“They’ll be mighty hard to be beat on a dry, big ground.”
Lightly-built mdifielder Adam Decicco continued his great season for Leitchville-Gunbower, kicking three goals in a best on ground performance.
Joel Helman, Daniel Meroli and Hoby Bussey all stepped up for the Bombers in Keath’s absence.
Midfielder Russell Douglas was Colbo’s best, while Matt Riordan was solid again down back. Tim O’Dwyer won plenty of the ball and kicked two goals and ruckman Lochlan Sirett continued his great form.
The Bombers remain one game clear of North Bendigo at the top of the table and they also have a game in hand. The third-placed Grasshoppers are equal on points with fourth-placed Huntly, but they hold a 32 per cent advantage.
HDFL fixture for round 14: Mount Pleasant v Elmore, Leitchville-Gunbower v Huntly, Lockington-Bamawm United v Colbinabbin, North Bendigo v Heathcote.
