SANDHURST fought for a one-point victory on Strathfieldsaye Storm’s turf at Triple M Park in Saturday’s 16th round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
The dramatic win in Bendigo Health Round meant Sandhurst moved four points clear of Storm in the fight for top spot.
The Dragons led 38-34 at half-time and then kicked clear in the third.
A run of four unanswered goals meant Sandhurst led 62-35 at just under 20 minutes to play in term three.
Storm struck back when Ben Lester and Hugh Behrens were on target.
The Sandhurst line-up held a 14-point buffer going into the final term.
After a run of behinds it was Patrick Blandford who kicked consecutive goals to put Storm within a point at just over seven minutes to play.
A Dragons’ team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, held its nerve to mark an eighth victory in a row.
Sandhurst’s attack was led by Fergus Greene and Cobi Maxted on two goals each.
Strathfieldsaye’s James Schischka kicked a match-high three goals as Siologa Siu slotted two.
Best for the Dragons were Fergus Greene, Matt Wilkinson, Dayten Uerata, Cooper Smith, Nick Stagg and Liam Ireland.
Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Cooper Jones, Daniel Clohesy, Siologa Siu, Hugh Behrens and James Schischka were best for the Jeff Andrews-coached Storm.
It was Fluoro For Neuro as South Bendigo played Golden Square at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
The Bloods wore specially-designed jumpers which were auctioned off to raise funds for the Bendigo Health neurology team.
On field it was South Bendigo which led 27-11 at quarter-time.
Golden Square struck back to win the second, 20-11.
The Bloods blitzed in the third term term.
As South Bendigo scored 5.5 it kept the Bulldogs to a tally of 1.2.
The blue and gold won the last, 9-8, but it was the red and white which led 81-48 at the final siren.
Sam Langley led the Bloods’ attack on three goals as Callum Crisp, Brody Haddow and Isaiah Miller kicked two each.
Golden Square’s leading goalkicker was Jordan Rosengren on three.
Best for South Bendigo were Zaydyn Lockwood, Brody Haddow, Josh Nitschke, Zac Hare, Anthony Zimmerman and Sam Langley.
Golden Square’s best were Tom Strauch, Macey Eaton, Logan Wescott, Harry Burke, Zac Wescott and Jordan Rosengren.
A 10-5 record has a South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, in fifth place and through to another finals campaign.
The Brad Eaton and Liam Barrett-coached Golden Square is seventh on a 3-11 record.
Eaglehawk kicked clear in the final term to win its clash at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve by 29 points.
The in-form Hawks were under pressure as the Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine led 22-8 at quarter-time.
Eaglehawk struck back to score 5.3 in the second as it held the Magpies to a tally of 1.1.
A 12-point lead for the Borough at half-time was back to just seven points going into the final term.
Led by the play of Nick and Ben Thompson, and ruckman Callum Heath it was Eaglehawk which responded to the challenge.
The Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Hawks scored 4.4 and kept the Pies to a major in the last quarter.
When the siren sounded the Hawks were up 91-62.
Nick Thompson capped a superb match with seven goals.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Riley Pedretti on three as Bailey Henderson and Harrison Sheahan slotted two each.
The Borough’s best included Billy Evans, Dylan Hanley and Oscar White.
Best for Castlemaine were Dylan Landt, Jaise Coleman, Jacob Bauer, Will Marks, Harrison Sheahan and Harper Kneebone.
A 12-goal haul by Gisborne gun Pat McKenna against Broadford has given him a seven-goal lead in the race for the Ron Best Medal.
McKenna and his Bulldogs team-mates racked up 40 goals against the Kangaroos at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
It was a consistent tally of goals by Gisborne across four quarters.
The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs scored 10 goals in the first term and match that feat in the second.
Gisborne led 128-9 at half-time and the intensity at the contest did not let up.
After scoring eight goals in the third, Gisborne finished with 12 in the last to complete a 258-16 victory.
McKenna was the dominant figure in the forward 50m arc on a dozen goals as Harry Luxmoore slotted eight.
Other multiple goalkickers were Matt Merrett on three as Brad Bernacki, Adam Brancatisano, Blake Freeth, Campbell Johns and Thomas Werner added two each.
Gisborne had 15 players on the goalkicking list.
Harry Behan and Jacob Street-Glasson were on target for Broadford.
Best for Gisborne were Brad Bernacki, Pat McKenna, Shane Clough, Lucas Hannon, Harrison Bryant and Will Elliott.
Owen Sloan, Oliver Lubeck, Bryce Fleming, Isaac Smithwick, Ben Thompson and Harry Behan were best for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford.
Kangaroo Flat had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder after 16 rounds:
Sandhurst 193 per cent, 48 points; Strathfieldsaye 164, 44; Gisborne 192, 40; Eaglehawk 159, 40; South Bendigo 148, 40; Castlemaine 105, 20; Golden Square 94, 12; Kangaroo Flat 59, 12; Broadford 10, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s round 17 action will be Sandhurst against Gisborne from 2.20pm at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Golden Square plays Strathfieldsaye at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
Kangaroo Flat tackles South Bendigo at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
Broadford and Castlemaine will clash on the Kangaroos’ ground at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve.
Eaglehawk has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
67 Pat McKenna, Gis.
60 James Schischka, S’saye.
53 Brock Harvey, SB.
34 Nick Keogh, KF.
31 Michael Hartley, Cm.
27 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
26 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Ben Thompson, Eh.
25 Fergus Greene, Sh.
24 Jordan Rosengren, GS.
23 Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
21 Brody Haddow, SB; Nick Thompson, Eh.
20 Jacquin Mifsud, Eh; Oliver Morris, Sh.
19 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Jack McMahon, GS; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
18 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Nick Lang, KF; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Tom Strauch, GS; Oscar White, Eh.
17 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Jack O’Shannessy, Eh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Zach Charles, S’saye.
15 James Gray, Gis.; Alex Smith-Ralph, SB.
