Bendigo Advertiser | LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower coach Matt Hawken has praised the character of his side after the Bombers inflicted Huntly’s first loss of Heathcote District Football League’s season, despite a crippling injury toll.
The Bombers got away to a strong start against the Hawks at Leitchville to lay the foundation for their 16.11 (107) to 10.13 (73) victory on Saturday.
The win was the fourth in a row for the Bombers, but it came at a price as Tom German (quad), Jason Dal Santo (knee), Joel Helman (broken collarbone) and Will Brereton (hamstring) were all injured.
“We’re happy with the result, but it was a brutal contest and with 10 minutes to go until half-time we were down to no bench,” Hawken said.
CRASH: North Bendigo's Tyson Findlay and LBU veteran Mick Dobson collide during the third quarter of Saturday's clash at Superior Roofing Oval.
“To get over Huntly on a big ground with the situation we were in, I was ecstatic.
“We worked really hard early to build a lead and were able to hang in during the second half.
“In terms of wins, it’s as good as I’ve been involved in given we were playing an opposition that was flying and to have lost four blokes by half-time… it was a phenomenal effort.”
Last year’s HDFL Rising Star Adam Decicco (two goals), ruckman-forward Cameron Ross (four goals) and the in-form Jackson McEwan were the best for the Bombers, who now have a 21-day break until their next game against Heathcote.
DOMINANT: North Bendigo ruckman Brett Strange was an imposing presence during the Bulldogs' 142-point win over LBU on Saturday. Pictures: LUKE WEST
Having been strong starters this season – they had outscored their opposition 144-23 in their previous three first terms – the Hawks were forced to play catch-up footy after trailing by 24 points at quarter-time and then 31 at half-time.
Chris Gleeson (four) and Harry Whittle (three) combined for seven of the Hawks’ 10 goals.
• Mount Pleasant rallied from a slow start to overhaul Heathcote by three points at Pigeon Park – the first match this season decided by a single-figure margin.
Coming off two hidings, the Blues won 11.13 (79) to 11.10 (76), with the match-winning goal kicked by Tyler McNamara from the boundary.
Earlier, the Blues had been slow out of the blocks when they trailed 5.0 to 1.3 at quarter-time.
“We slow to get going, but I was really pleased with the way the boys were able to grind it out,” Blues coach Derrick Filo said.
“It was one of those games where we won ugly, but you’re happy to get the four points and move on.
“We lost two players early, so there wasn’t a lot of rotations for the last two and a half quarters.”
The Blues lost midfielder Paul Clemente (calf) and veteran defender Chris Black (corkie).
Not only did the win improve the Blues to 3-2, but they retained the Peter and Cliff White Memorial Shield in what was the 20th installment.
“Both clubs are very passionate about the shield. It’s a great day for both clubs, so it’s good to be able to win it again,” Filo said.
Nathan Byrne and Nick Grigg kicked three goals apiece for the Blues, whose best two were midfielders Adam Richardson and Jason Shaw.
The Saints had good players in Mitch McLean, Marc Millard and Jake Condon. Rikki Stephens kicked three goals.
• Elmore has won two in a row for the first time since 2012, backing up its victory over LBU last week with a 25-point triumph over White Hills at home.
The Bloods led by one point at three quarter-time, but finished the stronger of the two sides to pull away for a 14.15 (99) to 11.8 (74) victory, ending a string of seven-straight losses against the Demons.
Elmore coach Alex Gleeson says the reason for the strong finish was simple – conversion.
The Bloods kicked 9.13 in the first three quarters, before finishing with 5.2 in the last.
“The boys responded well in the last quarter, but you look at the scoring shots… we had 29 to 19 and only won by four goals, so we need to keep working on our scoreboard pressure being a lot better than it has been,” Gleeson said.
Phil Lobb, James Harney and Danny Brewster all kicked three goals for the Bloods.
It was an emotional day for White Hills following the death from cancer on Friday of Eddie Scarff, who only a fortnight ago was officially recognised as a club legend.
“It’s a sad day for the club and there’s quite a few of our players who have had a lot to do with Eddie over the years,” Demons coach Carl Hardingham said.
“We wanted to make sure we went out and played with heart today, which we did and the effort was there, but unfortunately, we couldn’t come away with the win.”
Jake Ward and Sam Frawley kicked three goals each for the Demons.
• North Bendigo’s Sam Barnes booted the first senior double figure bag of goals of the season across the AFL Central Victoria region with his haul of 11 against Lockington-Bamawm United.
In the most one-sided game of the HDFL season so far, the Bulldogs belted the Cats by 142 points, 26.20 (176) to 4.10 (34), at home.
Barnes’s bag of 11 included five in the final term, while team-mate Brady Herdman snagged six before sitting out the final quarter.
“In the second half we got back to the style of footy we were playing last year, which was pleasing. The big thing I spoke about before the game was effort and communication that wasn’t there last week (loss to Colbinabbin),” Bennett said.
Brett Strange was outstanding in the ruck for the Bulldogs in constantly giving his midfielders first use of the ball.
Darcy Richards (back) didn’t play after half-time for the Bulldogs, who in their past three games against the Cats have won by a combined 465 points.
Nathan Dyson kicked three of the Cats’ four goals, while David Ismail battled hard to be their best.
