GISBORNE celebrated one of its most significant victories in recent seasons as it fought back to beat Eaglehawk by four points in Saturday’s 12th round in the Bendigo Football Netball League season.

A late goal to Jaidyn Owen sealed a 13.12 (90) to 13.8 (86) win on the Bulldogs turf at Gardiner Reserve.

Bulldogs’ midfielders Ethan Minns and Matt Goodyear played starring roles as Josh Grabham, Nicholas Doolan and Eamon McKenna also figured in the best.

Brenton Conforti was Eaglehawk’s best as Jesse Collins, Jack Fallon and Cameron McGlashan won many contests.

The Clinton Young-coached Gisborne has a 7-5 record and is snapping at the tail of the fifth-placed Sandhurst Dragons, 28 points.

Strathfieldsaye’s remarkable run at home kept on rolling as Storm scored a 23-point win against Kyneton in the battle between first and third.

Led by the play of Bailey Henderson, Bryce Curnow, Jake Moorhead and Sam Heavyside, Storm won 15.9 (99) to 11.10 (76).

Curnow kicked a match-high four goals as Fergus Payne, three, and coach Troy Coates, two, led the attack.

The Kyneton Tigers never quit, but Storm’s class and teamwork were telling factor.

Tigers’ captain Josh Govan was best as Jayden Exell, Jordan Mangan and Hamish Govan worked hard for the yellow and black.

South Bendigo set up a 32-point lead by half-time of the clash with Maryborough at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

The Bloods led 41-9 at the main break and added 10 more goals in the last hour.

After a disappointing first half, Maryborough struck back to score 8.7 in the second, but it was the Bloods who ran out 107-64 victors.

Rising star Braydan Torpey led South’s attack on four goals as Brock Harvey and Leroy Miller chipped in with three apiece.

Leading goalkickers for the Magpies were Jordan Fraser, three, and Mitch Kennedy, two.

Bloods’ ruckman Callum Crisp was best afield as Brody Haddow, Dylan McCutcheon and Isaiah Miller led the way.

Maryborough’s best were Bodie Malone, Brady Neill, Jacob Long and Connor O’Shea.

The Sandhurst Dragons fired up in the second half of the match against Kangaroo Flat at Dower Park.

The Dragons led the undermanned Roos by just 16 points at half-time.

In the last hour of the contest, Sandhurst slammed on 15.17 and kept the Flat to just two points in a 19.25 (139) to 2.6 (18) victory.

Zeb Broadbent led Sandhurst’s attack on four goals as Zac East and Adam Parry added three each.

The Roos goalkickers were Lloyd Needs and Liam O’Keefe.

A Harding medallist as best and fairest in his time at Bridgewater in the Loddon Valley FNL, Zeb Broadbent was best afield, Jake Pallpratt, Lee Coghlan, Andy Collins and Tim Martin also played well for the Dragons.

Kangaroo Flat’s best were Jonathan Lanyon, Dylan Klemm, Liam Collins and Matt Filo.

At Golden Square, the Bulldogs showed no mercy for Castlemaine.

The blue and gold slammed on 10 goals in the opening quarter and then added seven, nine and seven in the next three quarters on the way to a 206-point vicory.

Dylan Johnstone was in superb form as he added nine of his team’s 33 goals.

Just as impressive was the defensive effort in which the Dogs conceded just one goal kicked by Will Moran.

Bulldogs captain Jack Geary was best afield as Johnstone, Matt Compston and Jayden Burke all played key roles.

Castlemaine’s best were Jake O’Brien, Anthony Robins, Joel Smith and Riley Pedretti.

Match of the day in next Saturday’s round will be at Canterbury Park where Eaglehawk takes on Golden Square.

Another big match will be at Tigerland as Kyneton faces Gisborne.

Sandhurst faces a huge challenge against Strathfieldsaye in the Dragons den at the QEO.

Maryborough is at home against Kangaroo Flat, and Castlemaine faces South Bendigo.

Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:

Strathfieldsaye 44 points, 201 per cent; Eaglehawk 36, 194; Golden Square 36, 191; Kyneton 34, 152; Sandhurst 28, 173; Gisborne 28, 116; South Bendigo 18, 86; Kangaroo Flat 8, 41; Maryborough 4, 47; Castlemaine 4, 25.