Wimmera-Mail Times | DONALD absorbed a late charge from Boort on Saturday to record an opening-round victory in the North Central Football League.
In a match that saw just four goals kicked in the opening half – no goals were scored in the second term – the game opened up after the main break as the Royal Blues held on to register an 11.13 (79) to 10.8 (68) triumph.
Donald led by just three points at half-time, but kicked five goals to two to lead by 21 at the final change.
Two quick goals early in the final term saw the Magpies reduce the margin to less than two goals, but the Royal Blues managed to hang tough.
Seamus Young booted five majors for the winners and coach Luke Fisher chimed in with two.
Youngsters Brody Haddow and Sam Dunstan also impressed.
Fisher said it was the perfect way to kick off the season.
“You don’t really know what to expect in round one because it can be a bit scrappy,” he said.
“It was good to get the four points at this stage.”
Fisher said missed chances kept Boort in the contest.
“We probably wasted a few of our opportunities at crucial times, but it was fairly windy. It was a tough day.”
In the grand-final rematch on Saturday, Charlton survived a slow start and a third-term charge from St Arnaud to record a 17-point win away from home, 13.16 (94) to 10.7 (67).
Gav Vassallo and Nick Coghlan kicked two goals each for the Saints up forward, while Caleb Bloomer chimed in with one to be among the Saints’ best players. Cody Gunn was damaging up forward for the Blues with five majors.
Sea Lake-Nandaly surrendered a three-quarter-time advantage against Birchip-Watchem in the Tigers’ first North Central clash, eventually going down 10.11 (71) to 9.6 (60).
Jordan Doering, five goals, and Matt Elliot were good for the Tigers.
They led at every interval, but went goalless in the last quarter as the Bulls kicked three to snatch the result.
In the final match of the round, Wycheproof-Narraport proved too good for Wedderburn away from home in a scrappy encounter, 9.15 (69) to 6.10 (46).
