THERE were closely-fought finishes to many matches across the weekend’s Bendigo Junior Football League action.
Nine games in the 15th round were decided by margins of 10 points or less.
Teams took to the field for the second-last round in the home-and-away series.
Closest result was in the under-15 Girls competition where Strathfieldsaye defeated Mount Pleasant by a point.
Storm and the Blues played on Enterprise Oval in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
At the final siren Storm led 22-21.
Goalkickers for Storm were Millie Balic, Tiahna Evans and Scarlett Woodmore.
The Blues’ attack was led by Emily Brown on two goals as Willow Dellar was also on target.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Lucy Pollock, Cammie Fitzgerald, Colbie O’Bree, Greta Pollock, Scarlett Woodmore and Ayla Lowndes.
Best for Mount Pleasant were Willow Dellar, Jayda Bowyer, Emily Brown, Ruby Reid, Drew Browne and Lily Doak.
Both of Sandhurst’s team won thrillers in the under-15 Girls seniors competition.
Despite its inaccuracy, Sandhurst B held on for a 23-21 win against Strathfieldsaye at Ewing Park.
The team in maroon and blue scored 2.11 as Strathfieldsaye racked up a tally of 3.3.
Goalkickers for Sandhurst were Ahlyssa Moefaauo.
Storm’s attack was led by Jorja Cunningham, Ava Hope and Marlie Skinner.
Best for Sandhurst were Sienna Raco, Alana Borchard, Eden Rooke, Moanarose Moefaauo, Lucy Jones and Piper Comer.
Akiva Morrissey, Ava Hope, Lahni Tyrrell, Jorja Cunningham, Marlie Skinner and Ruby Hogan played well for Strathfieldsaye.
It was a four-point win for Sandhurst A in the under-15 Girls match with Castlemaine at Wesley Hill in Castlemaine.
The team in maroon and blue led 40-19 at three quarter-time.
Castlemaine fought back brilliantly to score 2.5 in the last as Sandhurst was scoreless.
At the final siren Sandhurst led 40-36.
Goalkickers for Sandhurst were Etta Place on three, Layla Burn with two, and Ella Saunders.
The Magpies’ attack was led by co-captains Kate Batchelor on three and Olivia Rose.
Best for Sandhurst were Elke Fletcher, Layla Burn, Indie Kramer, Harper McDonald, Alice Fraser and Etta Place.
Castlemaine’s best were Tegan Barry, Amelia Brown, Evie Mountford, Kate Batchelor, Olivia Rose and Miharo WiHare.
In the under-12 Girls competition, White Hills fought on for a 14-12 win against Mount Pleasant.
The Demons and Blues played on Friday night on O’Keefe Oval at the Mercy Junortoun Sports Precinct.
Lola McGrath kicked both goals for White Hills.
The Blues’ attack was led by Evie Kristiansen and Georgia Wings.
Best for White Hills were Shay Pearce, Tianee Boyd, Hannah McClellan, Lola McGrath, Ebony Morley and Ruby Rowles.
Taylah Leask, Chloe Lalor and Pippa Shannon played well for Mount Pleasant.
A closely-fought under-12A match between Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and St Francis ended in a 36-33 win for Maiden Gully YCW.
The Eagles were down 22-31 at three quarter-time.
Inspired by the play of Mason Barker, Ethan Van Den Aarsen and Billy Austin, Maiden Gully YCW scored 2.2 in the last and kept St Francis to just two points.
Goalkickers for the Eagles were Ethan Van Den Aarsen on three; Billy Austin and Ryder Cavalier.
The St Francis attack was led by captain Jude Place and Patrick Horan on three and two.
Maiden Gully YCW’s best included Ned Wickham, Thomas Ralphs and Samuel Sohal.
Best for St Francis were Patrick Horan, River Davies, Jaxon Blacker, Aiden McDermott, Darcy Kanzamar and Henry Stewart-Eeles.
Golden Square fought on to win the under-12A match against St Therese’s by 10 points.
The Bulldogs were on their home turf in Wade Street.
Archer Keighran kicked two goals as Teddy Eaton, Cooper Smith and Archie Walsh were on target in a 33-23 victory.
The Sharks’ attack was led by Reid Abley, Sam Gee and James Lenaghan.
Best for Golden Square were Henry Morton, Charlie Pell, Teddy Eaton, Archie Walsh, Archer Keighran and Caleb Heath.
Cooper Bysouth, Ed Pertzel, James Lenaghan, Zac Mundy, Sam Davie and Jack Skinner played well for St Therese’s.
Seven points separated White Hills Black and St Kilian’s-St Peter’s at the end of the under-12C match at Weeroona Oval.
The White Hills team marked a 47-40 victory.
Hudson Ruffell capped a great match with three goals as Alby Doran, Noah Fuller, Eli Kelson and Thomas Parks were also on target.
Goalkickers for St Kilian’s-St Peter’s were Maximus Carter on three as Hunter Horby, Finn Rees and Ethan Schoder kicked a goal.
The Demons’ best were Jackson Boyd, Max Clark, Jesse Bonnici, Hudson Ruffell, Hunter Chamberlain and Oliver Anfuso.
Angus Mitchell, George Kornmann, Ethan Schoder, Maximus Carter and Thomas Maltby played well for St Kilian’s-St Peter’s.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles marked a 26-21 win on their turf at Marist College in the under-12D clash with Goldne Square.
Sullivan Bracey, Memphis Harrison and Will Sheahan goaled for the Eagles.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Cohen Goodridge on two and Logan Kerrison.
Best for the Eagles were Sullivan Bracey, Wyatt Membery, Ed Duggan, Lawson Burke, Fletcher McCallum and Hudson Lawry.
Golden Square’s best were Archer Rielley, Logan Kerrison, Hunter Moemai, George Cowan, Orlando Moemai and Charlie Burzacott.
It was a four-point margin as Huntly Hawks soared to a 48-44 win against Marong in the under-16 reserves, division one match.
The Hawks were on home turf at Strauch Reserve.
Huntly captain Oscar Davies kicked two goals as Rhys Fahy, Harrison Hargadon, Zethan Jensen, Zavyer Marwood and Rhys Pitson were on target.
Marong’s attack was led by Jack Atkinson and Jaxon Marwood with two as Caleb Dudderidge and Harry Wilson added one.
Best for Huntly were Cruz Ameri, Jordan Giudice, Harrison Hargadon, Miller Connors, Lachlan Griffin and Hunter Adamson.
Elliot Bird, Jack Miller, Cooper Bray, Trey Olsen, William Smith and Jaxon Marwood were best for the Panthers.
Bendigo JFL round 15 scoreboard:
Under-12 Girls:
White Hills 2.2 (14) d Mount Pleasant 2.0 (12), Rochester 2.6 (18) d South Bendigo Red 0.3 (3), Golden Square 8.9 (57) d Eaglehawk 0.1 (1), St Therese’s 9.8 (62) d South Bendigo White 0.1 (1), Marong Blue 13.13 (91) d Marong Yellow 2.0 (12), St Francis Green bye.
Under-12A:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 5.6 (36) d St Francis 5.3 (33), Golden Square 5.3 (33) d St Therese’s 3.5 (23), South Bendigo 8.7 (55) d Eaglehawk Eagles 1.1 (7).
Under-12B:
Castlemaine 8.9 (57) d Quarry Hill 6.1 (37), Strathfieldsaye 7.7 (49) d St Therese’s 4.5 (29), Heathcote 5.5 (35) d North Bendigo Red 0.2 (2), Maryborough 6.7 (43) d Marong Red 1.2 (8), Huntly 15.17 (107) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 2.0 (12).
Under-12C:
White Hills Black 7.5 (47) d St Kilian’s-St Peter’s 6.4 (40), Marong Blue 6.8 (44) d St Francis 4.4 (28), South Bendigo 4.5 (29) d Golden Square 1.1 (7).
Under-12D:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 3.8 (28) d Golden Square 3.3 (21), South Bendigo 8.12 (60) d Eaglehawk Hawks 4.5 (29), St Monica’s 9.10 (64) d Strathfieldsaye 3.1 (19), Kangaroo Flat 15.12 (102) d White Hills Red 1.2 (8).
Under-14 seniors:
South Bendigo 13.17 (95) d Sandhurst 5.8 (38), Strathfieldsaye 17.10 (112) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 4.2 (26), Golden Square bye
Under-14 reserves, division one:
Marong 7.15 (57) d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 2.7 (19), Rochester 15.4 (94) d White Hills Black 8.7 (55), Huntly 11.10 (76) d Golden Square 5.4 (34), South Bendigo 14.17 (101) d Sandhurst 2.7 (19), Castlemaine 20.10 (130) d Eaglehawk 5.3 (33), Maryborough 18.14 (122) d Strathfieldsaye 4.9 (33),
Under-14 reserves, division two:
White Hills Red 5.16 (46) d North Bendigo 4.1 (25), Strathfieldsaye 14.14 (98) d Eaglehawk 5.9 (39), Kangaroo Flat 14.14 (98) d Mount Pleasant 2.7 (19), South Bendigo bye.
Under-15 Girls:
Sandhurst B 2.11 (23) d Strathfieldsaye 3.3 (21), Sandhurst 6.4 (40) d Castlemaine 4.12 (36), Marong 6.8 (44) d Eaglehawk 4.1 (25), Kangaroo Flat 10.3 (63) d Golden Square 0.1 (1).
Under-15 Girls, reserves:
Strathfieldsaye 3.4 (22) d Mount Pleasant 3.3 (21), Rochester 6.7 (43) d North Bendigo 2.4 (16), White Hills 10.18 (78) d Marong 2.1 (13).
Under-16 seniors:
Strathfieldsaye 16.13 (109) d Golden Square 8.7 (55), Sandhurst 16.18 (114) d Castlemaine 4.6 (30), South Bendigo bye.
Under-16 reserves, division one:
Huntly 7.6 (48) d Marong 6.8 (44), Kangaroo Flat 11.13 (79) d Eaglehawk 7.6 (48), Maryborough 11.11 (77) d Sandhurst 6.7 (43), White Hills 8.13 (61) d Rochester 3.3 (21), Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 11.14 (80) d Strathfieldsaye 4.3 (27), South Bendigo bye.
Under-16 reserves, division two:
Leitchville Gunbower 10.5 (65) d Kangaroo Flat 4.2 (26), Lockington Bamawm United Cats 26.173 (173) d Heathcote/Mount Pleasant 0.0 (0), Golden Square bye.
Bendigo JFL ladders after 15 rounds:
Under-12 Girls:
St Therese’s 100 match ratio, 1983 per cent; St Francis Green 84, 760; Golden Square 78, 332; Rochester 69, 232; Mount Pleasant 57, 126; South Bendigo White 50, 81; White Hills 50, 80; South Bendigo Red 30, 72; Marong Blue 21, 43; Eaglehawk 7, 13; Marong Yellow 0, 4.
Under-12A:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 50 points, Golden Square 36, Eaglehawk Eagles 32, St Therese’s 32, South Bendigo 30, St Francis 24.
Under-12B:
Castlemaine 56 points, Huntly 48, Strathfieldsaye 36, Heathcote 32, North Bendigo Red 28, Quarry Hill 28, Maryborough 24, Marong Red 24, St Therese’s 16, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 12.
Under-12C:
White Hills Black 52 points, St Kilian’s-St Peter’s 40, South Bendigo 28, Marong Blue 28, Golden Square 16, St Francis 12.
Under-12D:
Kangaroo Flat 48 points, St Monica’s 44, Maiden Gully YCW 36, Golden Square 24, South Bendigo 24, White Hills Red 16, Eaglehawk Hawks 16, Strathfieldsaye 8.
Under-14 seniors:
Strathfieldsaye 100 match ratio, South Bendigo 76, Sandhurst 38, Golden Square 38, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 38.
Under-14 reserves, division one:
Castlemaine 52 points, Rochester 48, White Hills Black 48, Maryborough 38, South Bendigo 38, Huntly 28, Eaglehawk 28, Strathfieldsaye 24, Golden Square 20, Sandhurst 16, Marong 16, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 8.
Under-14 reserves, division two:
Kangaroo Flat 73 match ratio, White Hills Red 64, Mount Pleasant 53, North Bendigo 46, Strathfieldsaye 35, South Bendigo 26, Eaglehawk 0.
Under-15 Girls, seniors:
Sandhurst A 52 points, Marong 44, Sandhurst B 36, Strathfieldsaye 32, Eaglehawk 32, Kangaroo Flat 28, Castlemaine 20, Golden Square 12.
Under-15 Girls, reserves:
White Hills 50 points, Rochester 38, Strathfieldsaye 32, Mount Pleasant 32, North Bendigo 12, Marong 0.
Under-16 seniors:
Sandhurst 92 match ratio, Strathfieldsaye 69, Golden Square 50, South Bendigo 50, Castlemaine 23.
Under-16 reserves, division one:
Huntly 85 match ratio, Marong 78, Strathfieldsaye 71, Kangaroo Flat 61, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 57, Whjite Hills 50, Maryborough 46, Rochester 42, Sandhurst 26, Eaglehawk 14, South Bendigo 14.
Under-16 reserves, division two:
Lockington Bamawm United Cats 83 match ratio, Golden Square 58, Leitchville Gunbower 50, Kangaroo Flat 30, Heathcote/Mount Pleasant 0.