SOUTH Bendigo won a hotly-contested Anzac Day clash with Eaglehawk to kick off the split fourth round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy season.
For the second year in a row the Bloods and Hawks played under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Scores were locked on 57-all going into the final quarter.
South Bendigo’s accuracy would prove a telling factor as the Bloods scored 9.3 in the opening three terms as the Hawks racked up 7.15.
The Bloods surged to a 14-point lead at 16 minutes to go, but back-to-back goals by the Borough meant South Bendigo was up 77-75 in the 11th minute.
A South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, answered the Hawks challenge with the last two goals to complete a 92-75 victory.
Alex Smith led South Bendigo’s attack on four goals.
Back in the Bloods line-up for the first time since he booted five goals in the Good Friday match at Strathfieldsaye, Hawthorn premiership player James Frawley slotted two goals.
The Bloods also had Ron Best medallist Brock Harvey kick two goals along with Callum Crisp and Jack English.
The Thompson’s – Ben, Jack and Nick all booted two goals for the Borough.
Best for South Bendigo were Brody Haddow, Hayden Geddes, Coen Harker, Tom Templeton, Alex Smith and Mac Cameron.
Eaglehawk’s best were Michelsen medallists Noah Wheeler and Billy Evans, along with Jonty Neaves, Ben Thompson, James Coates-Moore and Oscar White.
Although disappointed with the final margin there were plenty of positives for the Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Eaglehawk which has several key players on the sidelines.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
South Bendigo 168 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 322, 8; Gisborne 170, 8; Castlemaine 123, 8; Eaglehawk 103, 8; Golden Square 141, 4; Strathfieldsaye 87, 4; Kangaroo Flat 42, 0; Broadford 11, 0.
The split fourth round which is also the Pat Cronin Foundation Round will be completed next Saturday.
It’s the match of two Kangaroos’ mobs as Kangaroo Flat meets Broadford in the Pat Cronin Feature match at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park from 2.20pm.
Sandhurst and Golden Square meet in the Dragons’ den at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Strathfieldsaye faces Castlemaine in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Gisborne has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
15 Brock Harvey, SB.
12 Alex Smith, SB.
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Pat McKenna, Gis.
10 Michael Hartley, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.
8 Ben Thompson, Eh.
7 Zac Denahy, Gis.; James Frawley, SB; Brody Haddow, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Archie Rixon, Cm; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
6 Archie Eaton, GS; Coen Harker, SB; Nick Keogh, KF; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Jack Stewart, GS; Jack Thompson, Eh.
5 Jacob Austin, Sh; Mac Cameron, SB; Zach Charles, S’saye; Caleb Connick, Sh; Callum Crisp, SB; Nick Hoare, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
4 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Adam Brancatisano, Gis.; Tom Campbell, Sh; Bailey Henderson, Cm; Dylan Landt, Cm; Nick Lang, KF; Drew Lloyd, S’saye; Matt Merrett, Gis.; Oliver Morris, Sh; Joel Mullen, Eh; Josh Nitschke, SB; Terry Reeves, GS; Jordan Rosengren, GS; James Schischka, S’saye; Tom Strauch, GS; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.; Jack Thompson, Eh.
