EAGLEHAWK soared to an eight-goal victory against South Bendigo in Saturday’s 13th round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy action.
The Borough was in great form on its turf at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park against the Bloods.
An evenly-fought first quarter was won by South Bendigo, 29-28.
From there it was the Hawks who took charge in many of the midfield and on-ball duels.
Five unanswered goals by Eaglehawk across the opening 13 minutes of the second quarter put a lot of pressure on the Bloods.
South Bendigo scored three of the last four goals in the half as the Borough was up 65-49 at the long break.
It was another goalscoring blitz by an Eaglehawk team coached by Travis Matheson, non-playing, and Clayton Holmes, playing, at the start of term three.
The Hawks piled on four unanswered goals to lead 91-49 at 17 minutes to go.
South Bendigo had limited chances as it replied with 1.2 in the third.
The final term went the way of the Hawks, 29-23, on their way to an impressive 128-80 victory.
Skilful midfielder Oscar White capped a best afield performance against his former club by kicking six goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Borough were Bailey Ilsley, four; Jack Donat, three; and Ben Thompson, two.
Was a tough afternoon for the Bloods’ attack in which Brock Harvey led the way on five goals and Callum Crisp kicked two.
Eaglehawk’s best were Oscar White, Callum Heath, Jonty Neaves, Noah Wheeler, Lewin Davis and Billy Evans.
The Bloods’ best were Brody Haddow, Sam Langley, Brock Harvey, Tom Templeton, Callum Crisp and Chase Poyser.
Eaglehawk features in next Saturday’s match of the day on Strathfieldsaye’s turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
A South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, will be back home at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington for next Saturday’s clash with Broadford.
The Ron Best Memorial Shield stays at the home of Sandhurst FNC after the Dragons scored a 44-point win on Golden Square’s ground at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
A legend of the Bendigo FNL, Ron Best kicked 1624 goals across a 270-game career which involved Golden Square, Sandhurst, and Northern United.
In Saturday’s showdown it was Golden Square which kicked the first goal of the match through Tom Strauch.
The Dragons fired up with goals by Oliver Morris, Lachlan Wright, Oliver Morris and Cobi Maxted on their way to a 28-7 lead at quarter-time.
Strauch was on target in the early minutes of the second term and when Jordan Rosengren goaled the Bulldogs were within nine points.
Golden Square also worked hard to limit the Dragons to a tally of 1.3 in the second.
By half-time Sandhurst led 37-23.
Both teams kicked two goals in term three.
The Dragons raced to a 31-point lead as the skilful Dayten Uerata kicked two goals and the experienced Nick Stagg added another.
Golden Square co-coach Liam Barrett cut the margin to 25 points, but the Dragons scored the last two on the way to an 87-43 victory.
Leading goalkicker for Sandhurst was Oliver Morris with three as Dayten Uerata slotted two.
The Bulldogs’ attack was led by Tom Strauch on two goals.
Sandhurst’s best were Cooper Smith, Matt Wilkinson, Jaxon Howard, Nick Stagg, Liam Ireland and Hugh Schmetzer.
Second in the premiership race a Sandhurst team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, takes on Kangaroo Flat next Saturday at Dower Park.
Tom Strauch, Jack Stewart, Harry Burke, Byron Ritchie, Noah and Bailey Warfe played well for a Bulldogs’ line-up which has Brad Eaton as non-playing co-coach.
Six goals in the third quarter set up Strathfieldsaye’s win on Castlemaine’s turf at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve.
The Castlemaine team included Darwin Buffaloes gun mid/forward Jarrod Stokes for his first match with the Magpies.
The ladder-leading Strathfieldsaye was up 19-12 at quarter-time and 52-27 by the main break.
Storm began the third term with a hat-trick of goals before the Magpies replied off the boot of Ben McConachy and coach Bailey Henderson.
Another run of three goals by Strathfieldsaye included Will Mayes being on target to lead 90-40 going into the final quarter.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye started the last with goals by Darcy Mulquiny and Zach Charles.
Castlemaine hit back with goals by John Watson and Bailey Henderson.
Storm star James Schischka kicked his second before the Magpies finished with a goal by Ben McConachy and consecutive majors by Bohdi Robinson.
When the siren sounded Strathfieldsaye was up 112-74.
Zach Charles led Storm’s attack on four goals as Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Will Mayes and James Schisckha kicked two each.
The Magpies’ leading goalkickers were Bodhi Robinson with three, and Bailey Henderson and Ben McConachy on two each.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Darcy Mulquiny, Zach Charles, Tim Hosking, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Hunter Lawrence and Charles Dole.
Castlemaine’s best were Callum McConachy, Michael Hartley, Jarrod Stokes, Darby Semmens, Bodhi Robinson and Jack Sutherland.
A 10-goal return in the first quarter set up Kangaroo Flat’s win on Broadford’s ground at Harley Hammond Reserve.
In the clash of two mobs of kangaroos it was the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat which dominated the opening term.
As Kangaroo Flat scored 10.7 it kept Broadford to a tally of two goals.
The Flat won the second term, 28-6.
Eight goals in the third quarter was followed by another five in the last as Kangaroo Flat marked a 183-52 victory.
Kangaroo Flat’s attack was led by Nick Keogh on seven goals as club legend Nick Lang kicked six.
Other multiple goalkickers were Max Johnson, four; Aaron Nevins, three; Ethan Roberts and Zach Rouse, two.
Broadford’s attack was led by Brodie Stray and Jayden Welch on two each.
Best for Kangaroo Flat were Aaron Nevins, Nick Keogh, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Kyle Symons, Nick Lang and Jake Hywood.
Angus Hoyne, Harry Behan, captain Adam Miles, Louis Thompson, Brodie Stray and Jarrah Younger worked hard for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford.
A score of 8.4 was Broadford’s second-best of the season after it racked up 9.4 on Kangaroo Flat’s ground in the Pat Cronin Foundation Round match.
Gisborne had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Strathfieldsaye 162 per cent, 40 points; Sandhurst 201, 36; Gisborne 186, 32; South Bendigo 134, 32; Eaglehawk 154, 28; Castlemaine 111, 20; Golden Square 100, 12; Kangaroo Flat 57, 8; Broadford 11, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s round 14 action will be Strathfieldsaye against Eaglehawk from 2.20pm at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Gisborne takes on Castlemaine at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Kangaroo Flat faces Sandhurst at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
South Bendigo tackles Broadford at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Golden Square has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
53 Pat McKenna, Gis.
40 James Schischka, S’saye.
34 Brock Harvey, SB.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
22 Nick Keogh, KF; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
21 Fergus Greene, Sh; Jordan Rosengren, GS; Ben Thompson, Eh.
20 Cobi Maxted, Sh.
18 Jack McMahon, GS; Oliver Morris, Sh; Tom Strauch, GS.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Brody Haddow, SB; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Bailey Henderson, Cm.
15 Alex Smith-Ralph, SB
