Saturday 2/6/2007 

 

SCORES Round 7 Buninyong 16.8 (104) def Ballan 8.10 (58)

 

Waubra and Daylesford remain unbeaten as the Bendigo Bank CHFL heads into the Competition bye for the Queen’s Birthday weekend next week.

 

After 7 rounds of the 2007 season, the ‘Roos and Bulldogs are one game clear of third placed Hepburn, while Learmonth and Springbank make up the five, despite both losing on Saturday.

 

Waubra’s Lee Brown clocked up a second consecutive 11 goal haul to move to 48 for the year, a staggering 19 clear of his nearest rivals, Bungaree’s Bryce Nicholson, and Springbank’s Andrew Tranquilli (29), with Hepburn’s Andy McKay and Daylesford’s Lee Cox on 27.

 

Buninyong unveiled its new home at the Buninyong Community Recreation Facility, then capped off the big day by knocking over fellow finals aspirant Ballan.

 

25 years in the creation, the Buninyong Club now has an excellent facility, bringing the netballers and footballers together at the same venue for Buninyong home games for the first time.

 

With a playing surface on the oval similar in size to the MCG, the Porter Industries Bombers’ new home is an excellent example of how club, community and council/Govt can provide first class facilities for all levels of sport in the country, and the whole of Buninyong is set to prosper for this new addition to town.

 

One hopes the community recognises the value of the new venue, so that nearby residents would feel empowered to contact authorities with the information that will find the idiot who did some “wheelies” on the brand new netball courts on Thursday/Friday night.

 

Meanwhile the footy goes on.

DAYLESFORD remain unbeaten and with a significant percentage margin over second placed Waubra, but the Bulldogs were pushed as hard as they have been all year by 13th placed CRESWICK.

 

The Bulldogs won by 42 points, but were trailing the home team at quarter time. Prior to Saturday Daylesford’s average winning margin had been 125 points.

 

Coach Phil Davis reportedly gave his players a three quarter time bake, but may be quietly pleased for his men to receive a wake up before their huge Derby clash with Hepburn in the next round.

 

HEPBURN scored its sixth win on the trot, accounting for NEWLYN by 9 goals, although again the margin was flattering to the winner.

 

Alan Ware and Andy McKay were among the best for the Burra, who had to fight off a spirited late challenge from the Cats, who seem to be genuinely improving every week, off the back of hard work from Shane Edwards, Coach Jamie Wilson and Ben Stott among others.

 

BUNINYONG scored a confidence boosting win over BALLAN, as the Bombers continue to move up the ladder.

 

Despite the best efforts of the brilliant Hayden Cartledge, and with the CHFL’s most exciting drawcard Salesi Uhi beginning to find some touch after an injury lay off, the Blues had few answers once Buninyong lifted its work rate and found its feet on the big new Buninyong ground.

 

BEAUFORT and CLUNES battled out the game of the round at Beaufort, the Crows victorious by 9 points after a monumental battle.

 

Reports from the game indicate both these teams are beginning to find form after being decimated by player retirements and clearances, and each will worry other teams above them in the games to come.

 

Reigning Premier WAUBRA had too much class for GORDON, and the ‘Roos ominously scored 10 goals more than the next highest total from the entire round, and with Lee Brown in deadly form up forward, Waubra look to be tuning up nicely for another tilt at the flag.

 

BUNGAREE knocked over fifth placed SPRINGBANK to move firmly into the queue of teams knocking on the top five’s door.

 

While Bungaree seems to be on the improve, the Tigers’ need to bounce back after the break, or their promising start to 2007 could fade away.

 

DUNNSTOWN provide the bookies’ result, upsetting 4th placed LEARMONTH with a 22 point win at home, with David Box playing a starring role.

 

Peter Wilkie 4/6/’07