THE Leitchville Gunbower Bombers fought on for an important win at Huntly in Saturday’s 11th round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
A one-goal win by the Bombers ensured the Bombers stayed six points clear of the sixth-placed Elmore at seven rounds to go in the home-and-away series.
Saturday’s clash with the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Strauch Reserve may well have been an elimination final prelude.
An inaccurate start was to prove costly for Huntly.
The Hawks dominated most of the opening term, but a score of 2.7 meant it led by just 11 points at the first break.
As the Hawks scored two goals in the second term, LG replied with 3.3.
Leitchville Gunbower then won the third quarter, 13-2.
At the end of a hard-fought contest it was the Bombers who led 51-45.
Blake Dye led Leitchville Gunbower’s attack on three goals as Billy Hawken booted two majors.
Huntly’s gun recruit and key forward Sam Dunstan kicked three goals.
Best for the Shannon Keam-coached Bombers were Nic Cattapan, Sam Keogh, Lachlan Martini, ruckman Jobee Warde, Max Hagan and Jye Keath.
Huntly’s best were Mitch Billings, Darby Walsh, Steve Kairn, Kyle Forster, Darcy Lawler and Harrison Campbell.
Elmore bounced back from a big loss the previous round to win at White Hills by 10 points.
The Nathan Kay-coached Elmore charged to a 38-13 lead by quarter-time of the clash in the Demon’s den in Scott Street.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons won term two, 21-17.
A closely-fought third quarter went the way of the Demons, 23-22.
White Hills kept working hard and outscored the Bloods in the last, 20-10, but it was Elmore which led 87-77 at the siren.
James Harney was in great form as he kicked five goals for Elmore and Kay added two.
The Demons’ attack was led by Mitch Dole and Nic Wharton with two.
Elmore’s best were Lachie Munro, Phil Smith, Zack Holmberg, Nathan Kay, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty and Thomas Hughes.
Ruckman Jack Lawton, Mitch McConnell, co-coach Ben Taylor, Patrick Eefting, Jake Thompson and Mitch Dole were best for the red and black.
The Demons have Brad McConnell as non-playing co-coach.
Colbinabbin withstood a spirited challenge from Heathcote to win by 34 points at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Grasshoppers led 26-16 at the end of a first quarter in which Charlie McLean kicked a goal with his first kick in his senior debut.
Grasshoppers’ key forwards Brandyn Grenfell and Alex Carr won plenty of marking duels and often hit the ball to ground level as the match went on.
It was the Saints who led 12-7 as their run and carry through midfield and hitting targets troubled the green and gold.
Goals by McLean, Carr and Grenfell meant Colbinabbin was up by 10 points at quarter-time.
As the Grasshoppers scored five goals in the second, Heathcote rued its inaccuracy as a tally of 1.5 meant it faced a 31-point deficit at half-time.
The Saints lifted the pressure in the third and was rewarded with goals by Jackson Conforti from a tight angle on the run, ruckman Aaron Gundry, and the hard-working Will Tobin.
Heathcote drew within 11 points, but Colbo responded with goals by Grenfell and the experienced Nick Knight.
Three unanswered goals by Colbinabbin in the last term meant the final margin blew out to 34 points.
Grenfell finished with four goals as Carr and Knight booted three each in the 83-49 victory.
Conforti led the Saints’ attack on two goals.
Best for Colbinabbin were Isaac Carracher, Dean Smith, Nathan Basile, Brandyn Grenfell, Toby Howlett and Jude Ryan.
Heathcote’s best were Rhys Bolton, Jonty Kelly, Daniel Johnstone, Codie Price, Will Tobin and Aaron Gundry.
A seven-two record has the Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin in second place rolling into next Saturday’s home game against Lockington Bamawm United.
It’s a bye in the 13th round for the Andrew Saladino and Liam Jacques-coached Saints.
Mount Pleasant welcomed back brilliant forward and premiership-winning co-coach Ben Weightman to its team for the showdown with the LBU Cats at Toolleen.
After a nine-game stint with Tullamarine in the Essendon District league, Weightman was back with the Blues.
The goal-smarts, quick leads and sure hands were on show as Weightman kicked eight goals in a best on ground performance against the the Cats.
Heat was on the opening term as the Jayden Howe-coached LBU led 32-31 at quarter-time.
The Blues won the second term, 43-20.
Mounts won the next two quarters, 27-19 and 26-20.
By the final siren the Blues led 127-91.
As Weightman dominated in attack Mounts also had premiership-winning co-coach of ’23 in Adam Baird and the skilful Mitch Rovers kick three goals each.
Key forward Brodie Leonard-Shannon booted two goals for the Blues.
LBU’s leading goalkickers were Matt Butler and Thomas Leech on five.
Best for Mount Pleasant were Ben Weightman, Michael Whiting, Sam Greene, Fletcher White, Riley McNamara and Adam Baird.
Blues playing coach Josh Hann was on the sidelines along with director of coaching Cam Carter.
LBU’s best were co-captain Brodie Collins, Bowden Stone, Stuart Taylor, Noah Turner, Tyler Phillips and Matt Butler.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
North Bendigo 267 per cent, 36 points; Colbinabbin 187, 28; Mount Pleasant 150, 28; Huntly 100, 26; Leitchville Gunbower 106, 22; Elmore 69, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 75, 14; White Hills 50, 4; Heathcote 61, 2.
In next Saturday’s 12th round it will be Leitchville Gunbower against Mount Pleasant at Gunbower from 12.30pm.
Colbinabbin faces Lockington Bamawm United at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
Elmore will be on home turf against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
The unbeaten North Bendigo faces Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons at Bendigo Club in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Heathcote has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
39 Sam Dunstan, Huntly.
30 Mitch Bennett, Mount Pleasant.
30 Brandyn Grenfell, Colbinabbin.
27 Cody Riddick, North Bendigo.
25 Jake Dean, North Bendigo.
25 Dylan Klemm, North Bendigo.
23 James Harney, Elmore.
22 Dylan Johnstone, Heathcote.
21 Alex Carr, Colbinabbin.
21 Nick Knight, Colbinabbin.
19 Darcy Richards, North Bendigo.
18 Billy Hawken, Leitchville Gunbower.
18 Brodie-Leonard-Shannon, Mount Pleasant.
16 Blake Dye, Leitchville Gunbower.
16 Thomas Leech, Lockington Bamawm United.
15 Zak Saad, Heathcote.
14 Chris Horman, Leitchville Gunbower.
14 Jack Reiter, Lockington Bamawm United.
14 Lachy Wilson, Huntly.
13 Abe Sladden, Huntly.
12 Matt Butler, Lockington Bamawm United.
12 Ryan Hartley, North Bendigo.
12 Jack Hickman, Mount Pleasant.
12 Nathan Kay, Elmore.
11 Adam Baird, Mount Pleasant.
11 Liam Dillon, North Bendigo.
11 Jackson Jones, Heathcote.
11 Cohen Kekich, White Hills.
11 Matt O’Dwyer, Elmore.
11 Ibrahim Taha, Heathcote.
10 Bart Phillips, Lockington Bamawm United.
10 Jack Teasdale, Mount Pleasant.
10 Jake Thompson, White Hills.
10 Nic Waterson, North Bendigo.