Nick Smart launches it through the midfield during Lockington-Bamawm United’s defeat to Colbinabbin at the weekend. Photos: Jordan Townrow
The race for Heathcote District Football League finals will come down to the final week, after Lockington-Bamawm United and Leitchville-Gunbower were defeated in the penultimate round.
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Colbinabbin did the deed against the Cats, while elsewhere Huntly proved too strong for Elmore.
The round
Colbinabbin 17.14 (116) d Lockington-Bamawm 8.9 (57)
Elmore 7.12 (54) lt Huntly 14.14 (98)
North Bendigo 23.21 (159) d Leitchville-Gunbower 7.4 (46)
White Hills 11.11 (77) lt Heathcote 18.13 (121)
Mount Pleasant bye
Colbinabbin v Lockington-Bamawm
Toby Howlett flies high, but can’t prevent the Jesse Collins mark.
The Cats went into the away clash at Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve as the underdog, but were desperate to cause an upset with their finals future potentially at stake.
However, the Grasshoppers quickly upped the pressure on the Lockington goal and the Cats were fortunate to trail by only 17 at quarter-time after Colbo logged nine scoring shots 4.5, to Lockington’s two (2.0) at the break.
Ben McEvoy gets above his opposite for a mark.
The second quarter brought more of the same and, while the Cats had more opportunities in forward 50 than in the first, they still only found two goals, while the Grasshoppers continued to exhibit strong forward pressure, kicking 5.6 for the term and growing the lead to 37 at the half.
Lockington found some fire coming out of the break and went toe to toe with its finals bound opponents in the third term.
Benjamin Barton moves it with control.
Holding the Hoppers to four goals, the Cats found four of their own and piled on a glut of minor scores to narrowly win the period.
It was all in vain, however, as the fourth saw things swing heavily back Colbinabbin’s way, the Cats held scoreless as the men in green romped to a 17.14 (116) to 8.9 (57) victory.
The Hoppers, heading into a bye, will finish in third or fourth, while Lockington needs a percentage boosting win over Elmore in the last round to hope to make finals.
Jacob Gardiner gets fingertips on it.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Elmore v Huntly
Elmore is in its own scrap at the base of the table, hoping to avoid the wooden spoon.
Unfortunately for the Bloods, that unwanted accolade came a step closer at the weekend as they fell to Huntly 7.12 (54) to 14.14 (98).
Patrick Keele puts his foot through it.
The game started reasonably balanced, Elmore making a good account of itself in the opening quarter despite a lot of Hawks pressure.
Huntly sprayed a wayward 2.7 (19), Elmore able to keep pace with two straight to trail by only seven at the first break.
Cooper Mitchell sends it high and long.
Huntly found the target in the second, returning to the mean with a 5.3 quarter, while the Bloods struggled, falling behind by 30 at half-time.
That second term would prove defining and, although, the Bloods were well in the contest in the second half, the Hawks won all four quarters on the way to a comfortable 44-point win.
Matthew Riordan gathers.
James Harney led the way for Elmore with three goals, but Huntly’s Sam Dunstan had a day out, kicking seven.
Elmore must win its last game against a desperate Lockington-Bamawm to have any hope of avoiding bottom spot, while Huntly is locked into seventh position regardless of its final result.
Jeremy Mundie finds his target.
In the other games of the round, North Bendigo crushed Leitchville-Gunbower 23.21 (159) to 7.4 (46), while Heathcote got the best of White Hills 18.13 (121) to 11.11 (77).
The Demons take on Leitchville this weekend, while Mount Pleasant returns from the bye to battle Heathcote.
