A severely undermanned Romsey went down to Riddell by 50 points on Saturday, with the Bombers now turning their attention to this weekend’s clash for top spot against a powerful Diggers Rest combination.
“Footy’s always a challenge at Romsey,” admitted Riddell coach Justin Belleville, after his side had spent the first half battling to subdue the gallant Redbacks before running away in the last quarter.
After 12 rounds, Diggers Rest and Riddell have each lost just one game, so there is expected to be a sizeable crowd at Bomberland on Saturday for the battle between two sides with strong premiership aspirations in 2022.
“We’ve had 28 scoring shots to eight,” Belleville pointed out, happy with the second half after the Bombers had squandered scoring opportunities to kick 1.7 with the wind advantage in the second term.
Redbacks’ coach Paul Kennedy was philosophical and realistic, praising his side’s efforts to stay competitive for so long.
Romsey has a long injury list, probably the longest in the league this season, and the loss of fullback Angus Storey and utility Nathan Rayment in the first half added to the Redbacks’ woes.
“We just hit the wall in the last quarter … we had several players who had just played a handful of games and it was tough going out there,” Kennedy said.
Tim Walsh, Riddell’s ace defender turned full forward, kicked seven of the Bombers’ 11 goals to again emphasise his importance to the side, and speedster Callum Williamson showed his class.
Prime mover Dylan Tarczon suffered an agonising hamstring injury in the third quarter, hobbling from the ground. He is a much-needed cog in the side’s lineup heading into the finals.
The ultra-consistent Michael Tinkler, Nathan Tessari and Dean Walsh were named as Romsey’s best.
Several Romsey players had to double up to ensure the Redbacks fielded full sides on Saturday.
Riddell 3.2, 4.9, 7.10, 11.18 (84) d Romsey 3.3, 3.3, 5.3, 5.4 (34).
Goals (Ridd) – T. Walsh 7, J. Lanyon 2, N. Bridgland, T. Alkemade.
Best – C. Williamson, Alkemade, B. Sonogan, Walsh, M. Said, Bridgland.
Goals (Rom) – C. Lever, A. Paterson, N. Rayment, M. Burkett, D. Walsh.
Best – M. Tinkler, N. Tessari, Walsh, C. Pretzel, J. De Haas, M. Adamson.
WOODEND-HESKET VERSUS MACEDON
This Saturday’s round also brings a blockbuster battle between sixth-placed Woodend-Hesket and Macedon, both battling to try and secure a finals berth.
The two sides go into the game at Gilbert Gordon Reserve with contrasting lead-ups, as Macedon was smashed by Diggers Rest while the Woodsmen rested some top liners as they accounted for cellar dweller Western Rams by 141 points.
The Hawks will be desperate to turn the tables on the Cats, who won well at their clash earlier in the season, and they celebrated the induction of two new life members in Jesse Sheppard and Jimmy Hepburn on Saturday night.Sheppard and Hepburn have both played over 200 games and given loyal service to the club on and off the field.
Woodend-Hesket 22.17 (149) d Western Rams 2.5 (17).
Goals (W) – J. Pound 4, T. Duff-Tytler, P. Podbury, T. Pound 3, J. Hicks, J. Arceri, B. Toman, A. Rae 2, M. Shanahan.
Best – H. Giddings, Duff-Tytler, Hicks, T. Pound, Tom, J. Pound.
Diggers Rest 19.11 (125) d Macedon 5.4 (34).
Goals – M. Knox 3, M. Dick, T. Pridgeon.
Best – Pridgeon, D. Morrice, J. Wilton, J. Blake, Knox, B. Hoyne.Third-placed Wallan, after being well beaten by a rampant Riddell, bounced back to account for Melton Centrals 23.18 (156) to 7.6 (48).
Reserves: Riddell 10.14 d Romsey 2.4, Woodend-Hesket 25.13 d Western Rams 3.4, Diggers Rest 14.14 d Macedon 2.2, Wallan 13.16 d Centrals 1.4.
Under 19.5: Gisborne Giants 11.6 d Woodend-Hesket 7.10, Macedon 11.8 d Wallan 4.6, Romsey 4.8 d Riddell 3.10, Macedon 11.8 d Wallan 4.6.
