BY NATHAN DOLE
Clean sweep for Ballarat juniors in Goldfields Challenge
BALLARAT won all five matches against Bendigo in Saturday’s inter-league junior footy action to decide the Goldfields Challenge champions.
The young guns from Ballarat were in great form on home turf at Northern Oval and C.E. Brown Oval.
Fans were treated to an exciting finish to the under-13 boys match at Northern Oval.
Both teams scored 1.1 in the first quarter.
Bendigo’s accuracy was a highlight as it score three straight goals in the second term to lead 25-14 by half-time.
In the third it was Ballarat which fought back.
The hosts scored 2.3 and held the visitors to a goal.
A tally of 1.1 as it kept Bendigo’s score to just three behinds was enough for Ballarat to seal a 5.6 (34) to 5.4 (34) victory.
Best player award for Bendigo was presented to Jack Allen.
A list of Bendigo’s goalkickers was not supplied.
It was Ballarat which took charge after half-time in the under-14 boys match at Northern Oval.
Bendigo started well to lead 12-7 at quarter-time.
The hosts scored 5.4 to 1.1 in the second term.
A 22-point lead at the long break became 29 at a quarter to play.
Ballarat then added 4.4 to just three behinds in the final term to record a 12.10 (82) to 4.4 (28) victory.
Captain Tyler Borg kicked four goals in a best on ground performance as Oliver Power chipped in with three.
A list of Bendigo’s goalkickers was not supplied.
Best player medal for Bendigo went to Tommy Byrne.
Dominant play in the first and third quarters set up Ballarat’s victory in the under-15 boys match.
Ballarat charged to a 35-6 lead by quarter-time.
Bendigo fought back to win the second term, 14-11.
In the third it was the hosts who scored 5.5 and held the visitors to a point.
Archer Beattie and Requan Taylor kicked three goals each as Oliver Tickell added two in a 14.17 (101) to 4.5 (29) victory.
Best player medals were presented to Ballarat’s Lachlan Petrie and Bendigo’s Josh Kelly.
A tally of 23 scoring shots was a sign of Ballarat’s great play against Bendigo in the under-14 girls match at C.E. Brown Reserve.
Ballarat won 6.17 (53) to 1.1 (7).
The under-16 girls match was dominated by Ballarat.
In a contest played at C.E. Brown Reserve it was Ballarat which won 13.13 (91) to 2.3 (15).
A list of goalkickers and best players from both matches was not supplied.
La Trobe University Bendigo was major sponsor of the Bendigo JFL’s inter-league campaign.
IGA, Cavalier Homes, Agnico Fosterville Gold Mine, and Bendigo Bank were also sponsors for the annual challenge between the Goldfields rivals.