Bendigo Advertiser | A WAYWARD Sandhurst proved too good for Gisborne at the QEO on Saturday, winning by 47 points to continue its recent dominance of the Bulldogs.
The 12.20 (92) to 6.9 (45) victory was Sandhurst’s sixth in a row against Gisborne, but more importantly, will keep the Dragons at least one game clear inside the top three when the BFL split round is completed next week.
While the final margin was 47 points in Sandhurst’s favour, apart from the first six minutes of the game and the second term, the Bulldogs were only narrowly outscored 53-44.
The Dragons raced to a three goal lead in the opening six minutes, with Matt Thornton and Nick Stagg (two) on target, with those three goals kicked before the Bulldogs had gone inside their forward 50.
It was then two goals apiece for the rest of the quarter, before the Dragons controlled the second term, but constantly squandered opportunities to blow the Bulldogs away.
After Gisborne’s Grant Farrugia kicked the opening score of the second quarter – a behind – the Dragons had the next 11 scores, but were unable to capitalise as they constantly blazed away at goal and missed.
They say of a cricketer who tries to smash every ball for six “see ball, hit ball”. If the footy equal is “see goal, kick at goal”, that sums up the Dragons’ second term.
The Dragons kicked 2.9 for the quarter, with Lachlan Ross and Braidon Blake – who bagged three on debut - the only players to steer home majors.
While the Dragons were poor in their execution in front of goal, the Bulldogs were poor in their execution by foot out of the back half as they trailed by 39 points at half-time, 7.13 to 2.4.
At one stage the Dragons had 6.4 on the board early in the second term, but for the rest of the match kicked 6.16. They got away with their poor goalkicking on Saturday, but come September against finals opposition, it’s an area they need to sharpen up.
Of Gisborne’s six goals, it kicked four of them in an eight-minute burst midway through the third quarter through Matt Knox (two), Ben Sonogan and Farrugia.
The best for the Dragons featured backmen Ben Anderson and Luke O’Sullivan, onballer Stagg (three goals), Ross and Lee Coghlan.
Gisborne was best served by impressive Calder Cannons-listed Jack James, defender Tim Walsh and Josh Govan. The Bulldogs lost Bryce Williamson to a knee injury in the second term.
Match statistics:
Centre clearances: Sandhurst 11; Gisborne 11.
Inside 50s: Sandhurst 63; Gisborne 37.
Stoppages: Sandhurst 22; Gisborne 13.
