ELMORE celebrated a long-awaited victory as it fought to beat Huntly by a point in Saturday’s fifth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s senior footy season.
The Bloods led 79-78 when the siren sounded at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
It was Elmore’s first victory since August 17, 2019 when it beat Heathcote, 90-89 on the Bloods’ turf.
In Saturday’s clash , the Dylan Friedberger-coached Elmore led 27-17 at quarter-time and held a three-point buffer at the long break.
The Bloods surged clear in the third as they added 4.4 to 1.1.
Huntly fought back superbly to score 5.3 in the last, but Elmore’s tally of 1.4 was enough to seal an 11.13 (79) to 11.12 (78) result.
Ben Makepeace booted five goals for Elmore as James Harney, three, and Ian Fuller, two, were on target.
Huntly’s attack was led by Alex Daniels, Luke Semmel and Ryan Semmel on two apiece.
Holmberg was best afield for Elmore and had great support from McKenzie, 1 Harney, Cricelli, Fuller and Kellow.
Brandon Dimech, Tyler Miles, Jay McDonald, Daniels, Matt Jeffries and Luke Jones were best for the Hawks.
White Hills won a fierce contest on Colbinabbin’s turf at M.J. Morgan by 32 points.
The Demons led 21-2 at quarter-time and held a 16-point buffer by the long break.
Colbinabbin hit back to win the third term, 22-20, but it was the Sam Kerridge-coached Demons who fired up in the last to score 4.4 to 1.4.
At the final siren, White Hills led 12.13 (85) to 7.11 (53).
The in-form Jed Lamb kicked four goals as captain Mitch Dole chipped in with three.
Jed Brain led Colbo’s attack on three goals.
Best for the Demons were Lachlan Collihole, Patrick Eefting, ruckman Lachlan Sidebottom, Nick Wallace, Kaiden Skelton and Doolan Nihill.
Ben Southam, Nick Knight, Lochlan Sirett, Barton and James Lawless played well for the Grasshoppers.
North Bendigo marked the trek to Heathcote by scoring an 11-point victory.
Refreshed by the bye, North Bendigo was determined to bounce back from defeat at home in the round three clash with White Hills.
The Bulldogs led 34-17 at quarter-time and 72-50 after a high-scoring second term.
Both teams added eight points apiece in the third.
The Saints won the final quarter, 21-10, but it was North Bendigo which held on for a 90-79 victory.
Shane Harris led the Bulldogs attack on three goals as Andrew Bennett, Aaryn Craig and Storm Giri chipped in with two each.
The in-form Dylan Klemm was again North Bendigo’s best as Koe Ngawati, Tom Metherell, Giri, Craig and Jordan Ford also starred for the red, white and blue.
Goals and best for Heathcote were not supplied.
Mount Pleasant won a great contest with Leitchville Gunbower by 30 points at Toolleen.
The Blues led 21-19 at quarter-time and 36-21 by the long break.
It was in the third where Mounts, jointly coached by Darren Walsh and Adam Baird, kicked clear.
The Blues scored 5.4 to 3.1 to lead by five goals going into the last quarter.
It was a frenetic and high-scoring finish to the contest as Mounts scored 7.2 and the Bombers added 7.2.
Ben Weightman kicked a match-high six goals in a best on ground performance and Bryce Hinneberg added four in the 16.18 (114) to 13.6 (84) result which put the Blues on the fifth rung of the ladder.
Leading goalkickers for Leitchville Gunbower were James Barratt, Will Brereton, Blake Gelletly and Matt McLellan on two each.
Best for the Blues included Hinneberg, Liam Collins, Billy Mahony, Connor Mulquiny and Riley McNamara.
Lee Pollock, Josh Hawken, Nathan McLellan, Will Brereton, Tom Brereton and Matt McLellan played well for the Bombers.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
White Hills 283 per cent, 20 points; Lockington Bamawm United 282, 16; Colbinabbin 146, 12; North Bendigo 104, 12; Mount Pleasant 97, 8; Huntly 88, 8; Heathcote 81, 4; 44, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 37, 0.
In next Saturday’s sixth round, White Hills takes on Mount Pleasant in the Demons den at Tint-A-Car Oval in Scott Street.
North Bendigo is back at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to face Colbinabbin.
Leitchville Gunbower and Elmore clash at Degroot Roof Painting Oval in Leitchville.
Huntly tackles Lockington Bamawm United at Specialist Breeders Australia Oval in Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Heathcote has the bye.
Written by Nathan Dole