SOUTH Bendigo fought for a 91-89 victory against Gisborne in Saturday’s second round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
The Bloods and Bulldogs played a superb match on South Bendigo’s turf at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
On the rebound from a seven-point loss at Strathfieldsaye on Good Friday, South Bendigo led 25-13 at quarter-time.
In the second it was the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne which seized control.
As the Bulldogs slammed on 5.5 the inaccurate Bloods added seven behinds.
Gisborne led 48-32 by half-time.
Although there were many wayward shots at goal in the third, South Bendigo surged to a 16-point lead by the final break after it added 5.8 and kept the Dogs to a goal.
The Bloods were first to goal in the final term, but back-to-back goals by Gisborne cut the margin to 10 points.
South Bendigo replied with a goal, but Gisborne answered.
The margin was back to 16 points when the Bloods goaled at 11 ½ minutes to play.
After a flurry of behinds, Gisborne scored the last two goals, but it was the Troy Coates and Jack Fallon-coached Bloods who won a dramatic contest.
Last season’s Ron Best medallist, Brock Harvey led South Bendigo’s attack on three goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red and white were Josh Nitschke and Anthony Zimmerman.
Gisborne’s gun forward Pat McKenna kicked a match-high five goals as Zac Denahy, Harry Luxmoore and Kobe Zerafa booted two.
Best for South Bendigo were Josh Nitschke, Jack English, Mac Cameron, Callum Crisp, Zac Hare and Brody Haddow.
Pat McKenna, Dylan Johnstone, Braidon Blake, Zac Vescovi, Brad Bernacki and Lucas Hannon were Gisborne’s best.
Castlemaine’s hot start to the season rolled on as the Magpies soared to an 88-point victory on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Dower Park.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine led 28-15 at quarter-time and then scored five goals in the second term to lead 62-18 at the main break.
It was a free-flowing and high-scoring game in the third quarter.
Castlemaine slammed on nine goals, but the Kangaroos worked hard to add 5.6.
The Magpies won the last, 31-8 as Michael Hartley finished with a match-high six goals in a 150-62 victory.
Gun on-baller Dylan Landt capped his first match with three goals in a best afield performance.
Harrison Sheahan and the in-form Archie Rixon added three majors as Kalan Huntly kicked two.
Kangaroo Flat’s attack was led by Nick Lang on two goals.
Best for Castlemaine were Dylan Landt, Michael Hartley, Callum McConachy, Hunter Staples, Will Marks and Oliver Britt.
Daniel Stagg, Angus Macperson, Zach Rouse, Aaron Nevins, Jake Hywood and Mitch Collins were best for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat.
Eaglehawk hit back from its Easter Saturday defeat to record a 27-point win against Golden Square in the Borough.
The match was transferred from Golden Square’s Wade Street ground to C & M Oval in Canterbury Park.
Eaglehawk led 14-9 at quarter-time and then scored 2.6 as it kept the Bulldogs scoreless in the second.
The Brad Eaton and Liam Barrett-coached Golden Square fought back brilliantly in the third term.
Inspired by the play of Liam Barrett, Jack Stewart and ruckman Liam Hoy, Golden Square scored five goals to be within 14 points at a quarter to go.
The Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Eaglehawk responded to the challenge by scoring three goals in the last as the blue and gold added a major.
At the final siren Eaglehawk led 79-52.
Nick Hoare, Max Kennedy, Jack Thompson and Lachlan Walker kicked two goals each for the Two Blues.
Co-captain Jack Stewart slotted two goals for the Bulldogs.
Eaglehawk’s best were Jonty Neaves, Joel Mullen, Lachlan Walker, Nick Hoare, Max Kennedy and Tyh Evans.
The Bulldogs’ best included Byron Ritchie, Isaac Corvo and Noah Warfe.
Sandhurst scored a big win against league newcomer Broadford at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It was Broadford’s first hit-out at the iconic ground.
The Dragons surged to a 47-nil lead at quarter-time.
Broadford’s best was in the second term where it kept the Dragons to a tally of three goals.
It was tough going for the young Kangaroos squad against a well-drilled opponent.
After being scoreless in the opening three terms, Broadford goaled through Rhys Carman at 10 minutes to go in the final term.
Adam Miles was on target for the Kangaroos about six minutes later.
A dozen players featured on the goalkicking list for Sandhurst in a 170-12 result.
Jacob Austin, Caleb Connick, Cobi Maxted and Oliver Morris all kicked three goals.
The Dragons had Harrison Free, co-coach Fergus Greene, Lachie Hood, Nick Stagg and Lachlan Wright slot two each.
Best for the Dragon who have Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach were Lachie Hood, Fergus Greene, Nick Stagg, Oliver Morris, Harrison Free and Cobi Maxted.
Oliver Lubeck, Bryce Fleming, Jay Eager, Seb Morris, Taiten Thomas and Adam Miles were best for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford.
Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Sandhurst 322 per cent, 8 points; South Bendigo 191, 8; Castlemaine 164, 8; Gisborne 185, 4; Strathfieldsaye 106, 4; Eaglehawk 93, 4; Golden Square 79, 0; Kangaroo Flat 34, 0; Broadford 6, 0.
Highlights of next Saturday’s round will be the clashes on Castlemaine’s turf at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve, and on Gisborne’s ground at Melbourne North Truck Centre in Gardiner Reserve.
On a two-nil record, Castlemaine faces a big test against South Bendigo from 2.20pm.
Gisborne will aim to bounce back from defeat when it takes on Strathfieldsaye Storm which beat South Bendigo on Good Friday.
Eaglehawk marks a hat-trick of home games when it plays Kangaroo Flat at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park.
Broadford will be back on home turf at Harley Hammond Reserve to tackle Golden Square.
Sandhurst has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB.
9 Michael Hartley, Cm.
8 Brock Harvey, SB.
7 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Archie Rixon, Cm.
6 Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Pat McKenna, Gis.; Alex Smith, SB.
5 Jacob Austin, Sh; Mac Cameron, SB; Caleb Connick, Sh; James Frawley, SB; Brody Haddow, SB; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
4 Brad Bernacki, Gis.; Adam Brancatisano, Gis.; Tom Campbell, Sh; Archie Eaton, GS; Coen Harker, SB; Kalan Huntly, Cm; Drew Lloyd, S’saye; Oliver Morris, Sh; Anthony Zimmerman, SB.
3 Fergus Greene, Sh; Nick Keogh, KF; Dylan Landt, Cm; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye; Matt Merrett, Gis.; Josh Nitschke, SB; Sam O’Shannessy, Eh; Jack Stewart, GS; Ben Thompson, Eh; Jack Thompson, Eh.
