NORTH Bendigo struck back from its first defeat of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL senior footy season to win last Saturday’s match at Colbinabbin.
A wet and muddy M.J. Morgan Oval meant it was always going to be a low scoring and hard-fought contest.
Neither team goaled in the first half as North Bendigo led 8-3 at the long break.
Colbinabbin key forward Brandyn Grenfell goaled in the third quarter as the Dogs also goaled to lead 15-12 by the last change.
The Bulldogs broke the shackles in the last two add 3.3 and kept the green and gold scoreless to claim a 36-12 victory.
Goalkickers for North Bendigo were co-coach Ryan Hartley on two, Liam Dillon and Harrison Jarvie.
Best for the red, white and blue were ruckman Jordan Hargreaves, Liam Dillon, Harrison Jarvie, Ryan Hartley, Ryan Gillingham and Bailey Cain.
The Bulldogs are jointly coached by Rob Bennett.
Best for the Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin were Daniel Hill, Jack Lear, Charles Ryan, Will Lowe, Matt Palmer and Nathan Basile.
Lockington Bamawm United dominated after quarter-time to score an 86-34 win at home against Leitchville Gunbower.
The LG Bombers led 16-8 at quarter-time.
The Jayden Howe-coached LBU unleashed a five-goal blitz as it kept the Bombers scoreless in the second term.
By half-time the Cats were up 41-16.
An evenly-fought third term went LBU’s way, 20-16.
The Cats added another four goals in the last as the Bombers added two points.
Matt Butler was superb in the wet conditions as he kicked six goals for the Cats as Thomas Leech booted two.
Letichville Gunbower’s attack was led by Chris Horman on two.
Best for LBU were ruckman Tyler Phillips, Matt Butler, Bowden Stone, Brayden Hull, Jack O’Callaghan and Charlie Hinks.
Nic Cattapan, Xavier Colvin, Jett Keam, Matt McLellan, Charles Hancock and Max Hagan were best for the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers.
It was a memorable victory for Heathcote as it marked Memorial Day against Elmore at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
The Saints wore the purple strip on a day to raise funds for the Pancare Foundation.
The Nathan Kay-coached Elmore made a flying start with consecutive goals to be up 12-nil in less than five minutes.
Heathcote then replied with the next two which included a classy finish by Justin Bateson.
A Lachie Gawel snap put Elmore in front 19-13 in the 13th minute.
Goals by Bateson, Joseph Beedle and Peter Bolton in his first senior game meant Heathcote led 37-19 at quarter-time.
A fiercely fought second term went the way of the Saints, 14-12.
Heathcote led 44-19 before the Bloods struck back with majors by Sam Lees and Jack Smith.
The Saints replied through Ben ‘Diesel’ Connelly to lead 51-31 at the main break.
Heathcote did most of the attacking in the third and added two goals through the skilful Rhys Bolton and Justin Bateson as Elmore’s sole reply was by Nathan Kay.
The Saints were up 64-49 going into the last term.
The heat was on as Elmore’s Jack Barras was on target in the sixth minute.
When Nash Hayes converted after a 100m penalty the Bloods were within 13 points after seven minutes.
The Bloods did the majority of the attacking, but could not goal.
The Bloods added four behinds as Heathcote was scoreless for all of the final quarter.
At the siren the Saints players, officials and fans celebrated a 64-55 victory.
Best for the Saints were Rhys Bolton, Will Tobin, Justin Bateson, Ben Connelly, Seb Barnett and Codie Price.
It was also a first senior victory for Aaron Gundry and Seb Barnett with the Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques-coached Saints.
Elmore’s best were Hayden Trewick, Nathan Kay, Lachie Munro, Jack Smith, Rhys Holmberg and Sam Lees.
Mount Pleasant marked an 87-19 win against the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons in Toolleen.
The Blues scored goals in every quarter with best returns being 4.7 in the second and 4.3 in the third.
The brilliant Ben Weightman revelled in the wet to kick five goals as key forward Brodie Leonard-Shannon slotted three and Jack Hickman added two.
Demons’ co-coach Ben Taylor booted two as Jayden Sheean was also on target.
Best for Mount Pleasant were Jack Hickman, William Wallace, Caelan Smith, Ben Weightman, Michael Whiting and Deklan Wille.
The Blues have Josh Hann and Adam Baird as playing co-coaches, and Cam Carter as director of coaching.
Best for White Hills were Ben Irvine, Ben Taylor, Jake Dickens, Jake Thompson, Jack Monaghan and Jayden Sheean.
White Hills has Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 249 per cent, 48 points; Mount Pleasant 158, 44; Colbinabbin 193, 40; Huntly 103, 30; Leitchville Gunbower 97, 26; Lockington Bamawm United 80, 18; Elmore 59, 16; Heathcote 67, 10; White Hills 49, 8.
It’s fourth against second as the Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be in their Strauch Reserve nest to play Mount Pleasant from 2.30pm in next Saturday’s 16th round.
North Bendigo will be back at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on Heathcote.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons meet Colbinabin in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
Elmore takes on Lockington Bamawm United in the clash of the Bloods and Cats.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
59 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
48 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
37 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
35 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
33 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
32 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
30 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
30 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
30 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
26 James Harney, Elmore.
26 Brodie Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
25 Ben Weightman, Mount Pleasant.
24 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
21 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
19 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
17 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
16 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
16 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
15 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
15 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
15 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
14 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
14 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
14 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
14 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
14 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
13 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
13 Mitch Rovers, Mount Pleasant.
13 Ben Taylor, White Hills.
12 Tom Brereton, Leitchville Gunbower.