SOUTH Bendigo and Rochester squeezed into the 1951 final four with convincing victories in the last home-and-away round.

With two rounds left to play 60 years back, the Bloods were half-a-game behind Echuca and in fifth spot on the ladder.

But wins over Kyneton and Sandhurst in the closing matches handed the Alan McDonald-coached South third spot on the BFL table.

The Murray Bombers missed out by two, premiership points after going down by seven goals to Rochy in the concluding round.

Eaglehawk topped the ladder after disposing of Golden Square while Castlemaine filled second spot following a 24-point victory over Kyneton.

Eaglehawk's Harry Morgan won the league goalkicking competition with 78 majors. He finished 30 ahead of second-placed Bob Chappel of Rochy (48 goals) with Square's J. Kelberg in third place with 44.

Umpires filed two reports in the last round. Sandhurst's K. Scott was charged by field umpire Jones for having struck South's W. Comerford.

And Rochester's J. McDonald was reported by field umpire Egan on a charge of unseemly conduct, the report being that he'd struck K. Riley of Echuca.

SOUTH won its way into the final four with victory over Sandhurst after a high-class exhibition of fast, systematic football.

The win came principally from excellent positional play, more purposeful kicking and a well co-ordinated defence.
Both teams marked well but South gained the edge over the Maroons by making the most of every kick.

South's players disposed of the ball on most occasions to teammates leading out or with long kicks goalwards, whereas Sandhurst too often gained possession and then kicked wildly.

It lost a lot of drive as too often these kicks went to opposing players.

Apart from the third term when Sandhurst gained the upper hand, South Bendigo was in command and its early lead --- the Bloods led 7.13 to 2.6 at half-time - was never reduced below nine points.

Robertson was dominant at centre half-forward for the first half and played a big part in South's good start. Carter at centre half-back broke down many Sandhurst thrusts.

Moves which passed Carter were cleared well by other defenders who mad marked superiority over Sandhurst's forwards.

But the game changed after half-time. Elliot outmarked and outplayed Robertson and his Sandhurst teammates King at full-back and Lawson and Mann also improved their play.

Just as South had dominated the second term, Sandhurst was master in the third. Sandhurst closed to within nine points, but a South goal just before the three-quarter time bell gave South a 14-point advantage: 8.13 to 6.11.

The Bloods attacked constantly early in the final term and maintained the pressure with some clever leads from McDonald.

The standard of play dropped as South, with a winning lead, crowded the ball. This made it impossible for Sandhurst to break away and South went on to win by 14 points.

Robertson, Conolan and Ure all kicked three goals for South. Hargreaves and Scholes got two apiece for Sandhurst.

ROCHESTER'S aerial supremacy and excellent hand and stab-passing were major factors in the team's defeat of Echuca.
Rochy displayed sound defence with co-ordinated teamwork whereas Echuca relied too much on individual efforts.

In the early stages of the first quarter Stanlake (Rochester) and Caldwell (Echuca) were outstanding. Midway through the term Rocky's Chappel goaled twice and B. Walsh added a third.

Murphy was dominating the packs and Simmie and Bennett were prominent on the wings.

Echuca's first goal came from Kirchhofer yet Rochester still led by two goals at the first change: 4.5 to 2.5.
The home team continued to assail the goals in the second term although Echuca, with glimpses of good football, broke through the defences to goal through Alan "Doodie" McGillivray and Preston.

Nevertheless it was Rochester's term as it increased the lead to five goals at half-time: 9.8 to 4.8.

Echuca's best effort came in the third term, but many good opportunities were lost from weak forward play. The game at this stage was full of fire and after clashes occurred umpire Egan held up play to allow players to calm down.
Scoring was the lowest for the match, Echuca goaling through Hicks and Dick McGillivray while Chappel posted Rochester's solitary major.

Four goals in front at the start of the final term Rochester, with high marking and excellent positional play, displayed complete mastery.

Hickey was outstanding in the centre to open up many leads and Zegelin was untiring. Echuca showed signs of tiring and as its kicking deteriorated Rochester fought on strongly to improve its percentage with a 41-point victory. Chappel kicked five goals and Woods three.
For Echuca, Malcolm "Dick" McGillivray booted four goals and Woods two.

GAINING a commanding lead of nearly seven goals in the first term, Castlemaine was able to maintain the initiative to defeat Kyneton by four goals.

The Maine kept up an almost incessant attack on the goals in the first term with Langdon booting his first of three for the afternoon.

Kyneton's only response to Castlemaine's seven goals came from Beer who scored a point and then a goal shortly after.

The Tigers fought back in the second term and gained the honours, kicking 6.4 to 3.2.

Riordan, McCashney and Wally Culpitt were prominent for Kyneton before Castlemaine rallied in the third term. An early goal to Marwick was the tonic for the Maine.

Langdon added another but Kyneton would not relent. From play straight up the centre of the ground T. Bowe goaled.
The Tigers were still 34 points down at the last change and when Clark and McCashney goaled Castlemaine was forced to pack the backline.

Jefferies goaled for Castlemaine but the closing stages resulted in congested football as the Maine took no chances.

Langdon, R. Bower and Jack Jefferies all kicked three goals for Castlemaine. For Kyneton J. Beer and J. McCashney each kicked two.

ALTHOUGH outpaced for the major part, Golden Square fully tested Eaglehawk and except for the lack of a good forward pocket may have caused an upset.

There was little difference in the play each team had in their forward zone, but better co-operation gave the home team an edge in the scoring.

Impressions gained from the match were that Eaglehawk will have to curb the tendency of several men to wander well out of position and that next season Golden Square will have to concentrate on building up their forward line and ruck.

The teams were level at 1.5 each at the first change. James had made amends for Eaglehawk after four easy shots had been missed with a true shot from a boundary throw-in.
Eaglehawk went to the lead in the second term with two goals from Harry Morgan. Several fiery clashes brought roars from the crowd.

A goal to Redmond, who was now shading Vin Lapsley, put Eaglehawk further ahead but McCormac replied for the visitors.

At the main interval Eaglehawk led by almost three goals: 6.8 to 3.9.

Golden Square's forwards made full use of their few third quarter chances and kicked three, straight goals. But the home team contributed 4.4 to lead by 27 points at the last change.

Although Eaglehawk showed signs of tiring in the last term and Doug Palmer's tendency to wander far afield from his position at centre was costly, a goal to Morgan sealed the game.

Morgan booted four goals and Redmond three for Eaglehawk. For Golden Square Kelberg got three and Teasdale two.

How clubs finished: Eaglehawk 12 wins, 7 losses: 48 points; Castlemaine 12, 7: 48; South Bendigo 11, 7, one draw: 46; Rochester 11, 7, one draw: 46 points.
Echuca 11, 8: 44; Sandhurst 10, 9: 40; Golden Square 4, 14, one draw: 18; Kyneton 3, 15, one draw: 14.
Final scores, Round 19: Castlemaine 17.11 def. Kyneton 12.17; Rochester 15.15 def. Echuca 8.16; South Bendigo 10.15 def. Sandhurst 8.13 and Eaglehawk 12.15 def. Golden Square 7.10.

Richard's tips for Round 18: Gisborne, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst. Season total: 69.

By Richard Jones