Another interesting slate of results was delivered across round 10 of the Heathcote District Football League, with all four home sides winning.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Colbinabbin kept pace with league-leader Mount Pleasant at the top by beating Elmore, with the Mounts edging past Leitchville-Gunbower, while Lockington-Bamawm United was given a second-half reality check by North Bendigo.
RESULTS
Round 10
Colbinabbin 14.9 (93) d Elmore 7.12 (54)
Mount Pleasant 12.16 (88) d Leitchville-Gunbower 11.4 (70)
North Bendigo 17.15 (117) d Lockington-Bamawm United 7.11 (53)
Huntly 10.18 (78) d White Hills 6.5 (41)
Heathcote bye
Colbinabbin and Elmore came into their clash at Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve in contrasting form, the Grasshooppers seeking a fourth straight win while the Bloods hadn’t tasted victory since round four.
That difference was highlighted from the off, Colbo flying out of the blocks with six first quarter goals, with Elmore only booting one major to already trail by 32 points at the first change.
The second term was slightly more competitive, the Hoppers kicking another five goals while Elmore improved with two, although the Bloods were still in a tough spot, Colbo leading 11.7 (73) to 3.3 (21) at half-time.
The visitors produced a much better second half, starting in the third quarter where they outscored Colbo with two goals to one, with only inaccuracy preventing Elmore from cutting its deficit down further.
The Bloods won the fourth term as well, although only marginally, as both sides kicked two apiece, the hosts in the end cruising to a comfortable 14.9 (93) to 7.12 (54) win despite dropping off in the final two quarters.
Colbo and Elmore both had seven different players contribute to their total goals tally, with Hopper Alex Carr adding another three for his side after a five-goal haul last time out against Lockington-Bamawm United.
Colbo’s best included Isaac Carracher, Jai Carn, Charlie Ryan, Toby Howlett, Sam Ryan and Jasper McArdle, while the Bloods named Peter Rothacker, Rhys Holmberg, Matt Gilmour, Hayden Trewick, Kynan Sharpe and Lachie Munro in their list.
A sixth consecutive defeat for Elmore means it remains bottom of the ladder, now facing a harder task to climb the table after Huntly picked up its second win of the season against White Hills.
The Bloods have a bye this weekend, while Colbinabbin, which kept a one-win gap to first-placed Mount Pleasant intact, will hunt a fifth victory in a row against North Bendigo in arguably the pick of round 11’s action.
Mount Pleasant vs Leitchville-Gunbower
Mount Pleasant was undefeated entering a home meeting with Leitchville-Gunbower, but the league-leader had remarkably drawn two of its previous three matches, allowing teams below to catch up.
Needing to beat the Bombers to not give up further ground, the Mounts narrowly edged the first quarter at Toolleen Recreation Reserve by kicking three more behinds than Leitchville-Gunbower, as each side booted two majors.
The hosts upped the ante in the second term, slightly improving their goal-kicking accuracy by booting four majors, although the visitors added three straight to their total to stay within reach at half-time, Mount Pleasant leading 6.8 (44) to 5.1 (31).
The reigning premier wasn’t able to significantly extend its lead during the third quarter despite kicking 3.3, Leitchville-Gunbower staying in the game by adding 3.1 to only trail by 15 heading into the final change.
The 10-point advantage Mount Pleasant gained during the second quarter proved critical come the fourth, as the two sides again produced similar outputs, the hosts doing enough to keep the Bombers at arm’s length.
The Mounts kicked 3.5 in the fourth quarter to Leitchville-Gunbower’s 3.2, prevailing 12.16 (88) to 11.4 (70) in a well-fought battle.
Mitchell Bennett and Ben Weightman provided strong showings in attack for Mount Pleasant, each kicking four goals, while Chris Down, William Wallace, Seb Greene, Joel Wharton, Jack Hickman and Xavier Carter made the side’s best players list.
A seventh win of the season has Cam Carter’s team still a game clear of Colbinabbin atop the ladder, with the Mounts to be favoured when they travel to face seventh-placed Huntly this weekend.
North Bendigo vs Lockington-Bamawm United
Lockington-Bamawm United’s hopes of a come-from-behind victory in North Bendigo were dashed at North Bendigo Oval.
The Cats had momentum heading into half-time, winning the second quarter 19-7 to cut the early Bulldogs lead to 11.
However, North Bendigo was reinvigorated on both sides of the ball after the break, crushing the Cats’ fightback with a dominant 65-12 second half in what turned into a comfortable 17.15 (117) to 7.11 (53) victory.
Earlier, North Bendigo burst into the lead with a seven-goal, 45-point first quarter.
LBU did well to keep pace, kicking 3.4 (22), and backed it up with another three goals to one in the second quarter to tighten things before the eventual Bulldogs blowout in the second half.
Thomas Leech was active around forward 50 in the first two quarters and finished the game with four of his side’s seven majors.
At the other end, Jordan Ford put his stamp on the game for North Bendigo, kicking six goals.
The defeat drops the Cats to fifth place (5-4), level with Leitchville-Gunbower, and will provide a head scratcher for coach Jayden Howe, whose side may well see the Bulldogs (5-1-3) again come finals time.
Despite a slow start, North Bendigo now has the league’s best percentage, even eclipsing the undefeated leader Mount Pleasant.
LBU will look to get back on track this weekend, hosting the lower-ranked White Hills at Lockington Recreation Reserve.
The Cats will undoubtedly be favoured against the Demons, who lost a seventh straight match away to Huntly in the round’s only other fixture.
The two struggling sides were both evenly matched through three quarters before the Hawks took control in the fourth, kicking three majors while keeping White Hills goalless to prevail 10.18 (78) to 6.5 (41).