CASTLEMAINE almost created a new BFL record in May 1963 when they kicked 11 straight goals without a behind against Sandhurst at the QEO.

League historians told Advertiser scribe John Rice that the highest number of goals ever kicked without a miss was 13 by Golden Square.
And like the Magpies, the Square was also beaten on that day.

The accuracy of both clubs in the Sandhurst-Maine clash was remarkable. At half-time 22 goals had been kicked and only half that number of behinds had been registered.
The Maroons led 11.7 to 11.4.

John Rice was the Addy's chief footy writer 50 years ago and noted the speed of play from one end of the QEO to the other was excellent.

"And the marking was very good, also," he wrote.
Rice said Castlemaine was in danger of slipping out of the Top Four (they held fourth spot by a tiny percentage gap of 0.4 per cent from the Hurst) and faced top club Rochester in the next round of matches.

The Maroons went into the danger game without injured quartet Vin English, Nildo Munari, Peter Keogh and Bob Parker. Pat Burke was sidelined with illness.

"The Magpies also had a patched-up side with ruckman Ian O'Halloran, winger Ian Burnside and half-back Eric Watson out, but in the end it was Sandhurst's makeshift team which gave the better display," Rice wrote.

There was a clearance sensation leading up to the QEO fixture.

The Maroons were refused a permit by Mount Pleasant for ruckman Ron Byrne.

Mt. Pleasant told Byrne and Sandhurst his services were required for an important match against Colbinabbin.
Sandhurst club secretary Bernie Masterson informed Rice Mounts had been explicit they would grant Byrne additional permits once the clash with Colbo had been played.

WITH only two points separating the teams at Golden Square's Wade Street ground by three-quarter time it looked as though the game there would be close.
At three-quarter time Square led 10.14 to 9.18.
But the last term wasn't a thriller as many expected --- the Bulldogs closed out the match with an 8.1 burst. The Murray Bombers from Echuca managed just 1.5.

Reporting on the math for the Monday Addy, Jim Elvey noted the game was "of a poor standard."

"Both sides fumbled their way through the first half and the ill-directed kicking was atrocious," he reported.
"The Murray Bombers in particular had numerous opportunities in the first term to take a big lead, but their haphazard kicking for goal left a lot to be desired.
"Echuca's 1.8 in the first quarter truly indicated the lax way they were playing," Elvey wrote.

He also noted the Murray Bombers missed injured playing coach Bill Serong and "without him to direct play they were like a ship without a rudder."

However, Greg Toll was a fine player for Echuca. He was a clear winner in his ruck position and coupled with his strong marking in defence, Toll was the best for the Murray Bombers on the day.

The Bulldogs added five goals to three in the second term with Kevin Shearn and Don Matthews feeding Laurie Learmonth at full-forward. Learmonth finished the match with six majors.

Echuca added 5.5 in the third term, a term Elvey described as the best of the game. "This quarter could best be described as Peter Rudeforth's," he wrote.

"The diminutive Murray Bomber rover charged through packs like a ruckman and his clever goal sense brought Echuca back into the game."

Rudeforth kicked three of his four goals in the third quarter, but that was where Echuca's charge stopped.
The Bulldogs took complete charge in the final term to run out 40-point winners.

AT ROCHESTER, the scribe there noted South Bendigo appeared 10 minutes prior to the start of their game --- and warmed up with three footballs.

Something we're accustomed to in the 21st century, but apparently a new trend 50 years ago.

"The Bloods caught the Demons by surprise and registered two goals in the first two minutes," the reporter wrote.
"They were faster and combined with their spoiling tactics South worried Rochester for two quarters.

"The Demons were tackled immediately they got the ball and were not allowed to dictate the style of play," the reporter wrote.

But South's pace slackened in the third term allowing the Demons to come into the game. But their kicking for goal was shocking as Rochester went from 7.5 at half-time to 8.15 at lemon time.
They added 1.10 in the third term.
It took 24 minutes for the Demons to break the flurry of behinds with a major when Ray Willett banged home a six-pointer.

But South also managed only one goal and that came off the boot of Frank Lente, the Bloods' best player for the game.
The Demons scored early in the last term when Willett was on target for his second. South fought back with a goal to Mick Lee before Rochester broke another string of behinds with a goal to Bruce Major.

Hopper came into the game to find O'Toole for the Demons' 11th (from 37 scoring shots they managed just 11 goals) while South's second foray forward resulted in a six-pointer to Smart.

IN OTHER games Eaglehawk piled on 13 goals in the last half at the Kyneton Showgrounds but still fell short by 37 points.

The Tigers held a definite ruck advantage in the first term and led 4.4 to 1.3 at the first change. The Kyneton backline with Richardson, Ogden, Rodda, Fraser and Meade in top form shut down the Two Blues' attack.

In the centre Hanrahan was on top leading the Addy man at the game to write: "The Kyneton pivot player led his opponent, Keene, a merry dance and early in the match the Eaglehawk player appeared to gain the umpire's attention."
"In the second quarter Kyneton's supremacy in the ruck was still as pronounced and with Richardson defending excellently while resting Eaglehawk was able to add only one goal for the term," the reporter noted.

The Tigers led 10.9 to 2.3 at half-time. Then Eaglehawk blitzed the Tigers with 8.5 in the third term, but allowed Kyneton to add six majors at the other end.

The visitors still trailed by 43 points at the last change. Ken Peucker was in great form and snapped his seventh for the Tigers from a boundary throw-in and when Dick Buckley marked strongly following excellent handball between teammates he got Kyneton's 20th.

Eaglehawk had faded from the picture although Madigan followed Peucker's example and snapped truly from a boundary throw-in for his fourth goal for the Two Blues.
At the QEO John Turner's solid marking turned attack after attack for Sandhurst. Nev Johnston booted four goals and his handball played havoc with Castlemaine's defence.

Centremen John Williams and Kevin Maple (Sh) played wide of each other but the Maroons' Kieran Keogh was important for the home side in attack with two goals after half-time.
Mal Stevens was the Magpies' best on the day. Jennings booted four goals for the Maine.

ADVERTISER best afield awards for Round 4, 1963:
Golden Square v Echuca: Peter Hayward, who gave a dashing display from full-back for the Square.

His fearless dashes from goal and his long drop-kicking were highlights of Hayward's game.

Rochester v South Bendigo: Graham Balch came well downfield to outmark the South forwards and cleared with driving kicks.

Balch played a brilliant four quarters and appears to have hit top form. He was closely followed for best-on ground by Demons' teammate Ken Ingram on his wing.
Sandhurst v Castlemaine: Ruckman John 'Butch' Turner was a tower of strength for the Maroons, especially in the last quarter.

Turner's marking was brilliant as he continued to pull down 'screamers' all across the field.
Kyneton v Eaglehawk: Frank Hanrahan, the Kyneton centreman, was the outstanding player. He completely dominated in the pivot position.

Final scores: Sandhurst 16.13 (109) def. Castlemaine 15.7 (97).
Rochester 11.26 (92) def. South Bendigo 8.10 (58).
Kyneton 20.18 (138) def. Eaglehawk 15.11 (101).
Golden Square 18.15 (123) def. Echuca 10.23 (83).
Ladder, Top Four: Rochester, Square and Kyneton all 3-1; Castlemaine 2-2 (101.2 %).
Outside the Four: Sandhurst 2-2 (100.8 %), South Bendigo 2-2 (96.2 %), Echuca 1-3, Eaglehawk 0-4.
Goal-kicking table --- 17: Ken Peucker (Kyneton) 7, Nev. Johnston (Sandhurst) 4.
15: T. Madigan (Eh), 4. 13: G. Taylor (Roch.) 2, P. Rudeforth (Echuca) 4.
11: F. Rodda (Roch) 1, R. Willett (Roch.) 2, L. Learmonth (GS) 6.

From the Bendigo Advertisers of Friday, May 10 and Monday May 13, 1963.
Accessed at the Goldfields Research Facility at the Bendigo Regional Archives Centre, Hargreaves St., Bendigo.

Richard's tips for Round 5: Eagehawk by 44 points, Gisborne by 11, South Bendigo by 29 and Golden Square by 56. Progress tally: 12.

By Richard Jones