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The Advertiser's chief football writer John Rice described the July 11th round 50 years ago as contested "on muddy battle grounds".
"Tailenders Echuca downed the Square, which was fighting for a place in the four, although this was expected in some circles.
"Top club Sandhurst were beaten by Castlemaine, South Bendigo snatched a four-point victory over Rochester while Kyneton comfortably beat Eaglehawk," Rice wrote on Monday, July 11, 1960.
"However what surprised me most was that not one player was drowned on the water-logged grounds," the Addy scribe added.
The defeat left Rochester with only one win away from home in 1960's opening 11 rounds. The Demons' only away victory came in Round 1 when they accounted for Echuca.
But Rice conceded Rochester had a top chance of making the BFL top four. The Demons were to play five of their remaining eight matches for the 1960 season at home where they remained unbeaten, with just three away fixtures to come.

AFTER the round had been completed Sandhurst, South, Kyneton and Rochester made up the top four with fifth-placed Castlemaine on the same number of premiership points as the Demons.
But the Magpies trailed Rochester by 15 per cent: 99.1% to Rochy's 114.2%.
In sixth place, Golden Square was a game behind the Magpies - but with an exceptionally strong percentage of 104.5% -- while Eaglehawk and Echuca clung to the two bottom rungs of the ladder.
Considering the ongoing saga of the QEO's condition in 2010, it should come as no surprise to present day footy followers to hear how it was described half a century back.
Rice said the famous ground was "in the worst condition it has been for many years."
He then engaged in a spot of exaggeration. "For most of the match it appeared Bloods and Demons players were participating in a game of water polo or practicing freestyle swimming for the (upcoming) Rome Olympics."
All that aside, South produced a fighting last half to snatch victory in the dying moments of the big game.
The Advertiser scribe said he thought Rochester had made a huge mistake by leaving robust Fred Maxwell ‘freezing' at full-forward for long passages of play.
Rice felt that Maxwell would have given the Demons far better service playing in the ruck. Apparently by the time the Rochy brains trust moved the big man into the ruck, it was too late to save the game.
Maxwell had been abysmal in front of goal a week earlier against Eaglehawk when he managed just 1.9.
At the QEO in the slush he nailed three goals from five shots.
But Rice wrote that South coach Ron Robertson inspired his team after half-time, continually gathering kicks at critical moments and using his weight to advantage.
"His deputy Alan Martin stopped many Rochester forward moves with timely marks and showed he is adaptable by continuing to play well when shifted to centre half-forward in the third term."
Other good players for South were McAliece on a wing, Dennis Lee on a back flank, Pierce in the ruck and rover Ron Monro.
Little man Bernie Connors, unsighted in the first half when the Demons' rovers were in command, flashed into play in the last quarter.
Rice felt Rochester should have established a winning lead by three-quarter time after leading by 13 points at the long break.
But they overdid the vigor and paid too much attention to Robertson. For the Demons, full-back Pat Hogan held South out repeatedly with his bustling tactics, timely marks and surprising speed.
"At one stage Hogan followed Robertson to a wing to get a kick. He was well backed up by back pocket player Daryl Hooper who kept a tight rein on the resting rovers," Rice reported.
Another good Rochester player was wingman Bob Kelly, who starred with repeated one-handed pickups and excellent left-foot kicking.
When Robertson moved himself into the centre Doug Keck took his place at full-forward. Keck put his team in front in the last quarter with a kick off the ground which rolled through the big sticks with only minutes to play.
With three, consecutive behinds Rochester wrested back the lead. However, Keck was not going to have the honour of kicking the winning goal taken from him.
He marked a kick from McAliece and again put South in front by scoring full points.

MEANWHILE, home side Echuca held the Square to one goal in the second half, and turned a six-point deficit at the long break into a ten-point winning margin.
The Bulldogs were hampered when their skipper John Ledwidge and ruckman ‘Delicate' Des Dickson were injured in the third quarter and left the field. Both men injured their arms in separate incidents.
Nevertheless, Geoff Rosenow was in superb touch for the Murray Bombers at centre half-back and was the difference between the sides in the frantic, last few minutes.
Golden Square led 6.9 to 6.3 at half-time. But by lemon time the Murray Bombers had sneaked out to a three-point lead (48 to 45) with Healey of Echuca the only third term goal-scorer. The Bulldogs were scoreless.
Echuca wrapped up the four, premiership points with two goals to one in the last quarter. Healey took his tally to three with Square's only six-pointer scored by rover Matthews.
AT THE sodden Camp Reserve, the Magpies fought back from a 31-point deficit at quarter-time to beat Sandhurst by 10 points.
After chipping away at Sandhurst's lead, Castlemaine sealed the victory in the final quarter. Centre half-forward Dickson started a move which ended with ruckman Strong goaling.
Andrew Berry kicked his fourth major for the Magpies and even though Kupsch replied for the Maroons, Castlemaine had done enough.
Robin Hilson was a star for Castlemaine from his half-back flank, receiving top support from Strong, Williams, McMillan and Brown. The Maroons were best served by Hamilton, Frank Lenaghan, Kupsch and Keogh.
KYNETON turned in perhaps the best wet weather performance of the round, downing a patchy Eaglehawk by 16 points at Canterbury Park.
The Tigers played well within themselves and showed indications of better things to come, the Advertiser wrap-up said.
Although skipper Clive Philp was held goalless by Two Blues' defender Mick Radford, Kevin Parks celebrated his 24th birthday with three majors and the best afield award.
His towering marks under bad conditions were the highlight of his game. Other standout Tigers were Hanrahan, Chard, Bowe, Rodda and Edwards. Eaglehawk's best were Lane, Bull, Ilsley, Calverley and Radford.
Final scores: South Bendigo 7.8 (50) def. Rochester 6.10 (46); Kyneton 7.13 (55) def Eaglehawk 6.3 (39); Castlemaine 8.12 (60) def. Sandhurst 7.8 (50) and Echuca 9.7 (61) def. Golden Square 7.9 (51). Castlemaine's Andrew Berry and Kyneton's Clive Philp shared top billing in the goalkicking award with 30 majors.

This is a follow-up to the story published in early April this year when I wrote about Round 1, 1960. A summary of the end of the season in August '60 will run next month.

Richard's tips for Round 13: Golden Square, Gisborne, Strathfieldsaye, South Bendigo and Eaglehawk. Season total: 52.

By Richard Jones