Blues inflict Saints’ first loss
Catani inflicted Nyora its first loss of the Ellinbank District Football League season, holding on to win by just four points.
Wintery conditions favour the reigning premier, and they used it to their advantage to defeat the premiership favorites in the highest scoring match of the round, 10-4 (64) to 9-6 (60).
It was an intense battle right through the match with nothing in it at each of the breaks. The Blues held a narrow one-point lead following a frenetic opening term that saw each side manage four goals.
Scores were locked at half time and threequarter-time as the match headed towards a thrilling finish, the Blues kicking two goals to one to hold the edge.
Owen Fitzpatrick kicked four goals for the Blues, while Paul Pattison, Dylan Williams, Nicholas Visser, Dale Johnson, Cody Banbury and Jackson Caddy also helped will the Blues across the line.
Iian Osman booted three goals for the Saints, with Shaun Beecroft, Ryan Spooner, Rhys Bancroft, Dylan Heylen, Jordan Anderson and Adam Tagliaferro helping the Saints take it to the wire.
The win re-established hopes of the Blues obtaining a top three finish.
Low scoring draw
Wintery conditions limited scoring in other matches, none more so than that between Nilma-Darnum and Lang Lang.
Each side could only manage two goals as the match finished in a low scoring draw, 2-4 (16) apiece.
Desperately attempting to avoid the wooden spoon, the Tigers took it up to the struggling Bombers early. They scored the only goal of the first term and added a second to hold a six-point advantage at the long break.
The Tigers could only manage a minor score in the third term, with the Bombers kicking a goal as the only score of the final term to level the scores.
Nathan Campbell, Ben Campbell, Logan Deschepper, Mitchell Dance, Luke Bartlett and Daniel Telling were the better players for the Bombers.
Sam Kendell, Tim Bramall, Andrew Thompson, Troy McPherson and Josh Brown led a strong first half for the Tigers.
Crows overcome slow start
Longwarry overcame a slow start to account for Poowong, 6-3 (39) to 3-6 (24).
The Magpies started the match continuing the form that has it in finals contention, racing to a 23-point lead at the first change as an upset over the second-placed Crows loomed as a distinct possibility.
But the momentum would be short-lived, as the Magpies could only manage a solitary point for the remainder of the match.
Three goals in the second term put the Crows back into the contest and they didn’t need a second invitation, scoring two goals in the third term to take a seven-point lead into the final change.
The Crows kicked the only goal of the final term to secure victory.
Nicholas Redley, Russell Lehman, Leigh McDonald, Rhys Serong, Riley Rundell and Cory Lenders helped the Crows work their way back into the match.
Jayden Sullivan, Matthew Cozzio, Alex Doria, Chris Robinson and Peter Edwards helped the Magpies make a fast start.
The Magpies remain four points behind the fifth-placed Ellinbank.
Lyrebirds hold edge
Buln Buln held on to defeat Neerim-Neerim South, 3-10 (28) to 1-5 (11).
Challenged in the first half to lead by just one-point at half time, the Lyrebirds were able to secure more scoring chances in the second half to run away with it.
The final margin could have been greater had it been for a better return than 1-5 in the third term, an effort that saw the Lyrebirds double their half time score.
Bryce Monahan, Adam Rakip, Trent Baker, James Taylor, Matt Gray and Reece Campbell helped the Lyrebirds prevail in the trying conditions.
Ashley Lockett, Nathan Bayne, Jackson Ward, Toby Bayne, Dean Stringer and Aaron Fawcett helped keep the Cats in the contest.