Spectators certainly got their money’s worth in second round Riddell District football matches on Saturday, highlighted by an astonishing draw at Gilbert Gordon Oval between Woodend-Hesket and Wallan.
Lancefield heartened their coach Tom Waters and supporters with a strong second half with a desperate Macedon hanging on to win by less than a goal, and Romsey rebounded from a goal-less first round effort to push Riddell all the way.
The stage is now set for the Good Friday match between Riddell and Woodend-Hesket, with a large crowd expected at Bomberland. It’s the only RDFNL fixture this coming weekend.
No one could have predicted what occurred between Woodend-Hesket and Wallan, with the Hawks leaving their highly rated opponents shell shocked by racing to a 38 points lead by quarter time.
The Hawks looked invincible, with plenty of avenues to goal, and the Magpies appeared rattled during one of the most dynamic first terms by the home side for a long time.
But good sides bounce back, and the Magpies seized control with some positional moves in the second term to shut the Hawks down with a four goals to nil second term.
Three goals straight in the third term left the Hawks four goals up going into a tense last term, with the Magpies gradually whittling down the lead.
In the end scores were tied at 10.6 (66) apiece, leaving both sides with plenty to reflect on.
Adaptable big men Marcus Stapleton and Tom Gawthrop were listed as the Hawks’ best, and it’s apparent playing coach Josh Pound certainly has plenty of talent to work with this season.
At Lancefield, the home side’s effort in outscoring the Cats after half time to go down by just five points was very commendable. The visitors were pleased to hang on after holding a handy half time advantage.
The Tigers faded in the first half in the opening round, but not this time.
Riddell and Romsey have a keen rivalry going back many years, and the Bombers would have been pleased to establish a 17 point half time lead.
The Redbacks rallied in the third term, and the last quarter became a stalemate, with neither side able to score a major with the Bombers’ margin seven points.
With close wins in the first two games, Riddell will be keyed up to make it three in a row on Good Friday.
MATCH DETAILS
Woodend-Hesket 7.3, 7.4, 10.4, 10.6 (66) tiedf with Wallan 1.1, 5.2, 6.4, 10.6 (66).
Goals (WH) – A. Rae, T. Pears 2, E. Gove, T. & J. Pound, C. Templeton, T. Chapman, F. Fazzolari.
Best – M. Stapleton, T. Gawthorp, Fazzolari, N. De Leur, J. Arceri, L. Randle-Hewitt.
Goals (W) – M. Perri 4, C. Grindlay 3, R. Schraven, S. Morris, M. Mannix.
Best – Morris, N. Fowler, J. Bonello, W. Brock, S. Boyall, M. Bonello.
Riddell 3.1, 6.2, 9.5, 9.6 (60) d Romsey 2.3, 3.3, 7.7, 7.11 (53).
Individual details not supplied.
Macedon 2.3, 6.8, 8.9, 9.10 (64) d Lancefield 2.2, 3.5, 6.6, 8.11 (59).
Goals (M) – D. Phyland, M. Rutledge 3, P. Doyle, J. Cooke, D. Johnstone.
Best – Johnstone, Doyle, J. Dyer, Phyland, B. Hoyne, Rutledge.
Goals (L) – J. Kindred 2, J. Slattery, T. Atwell, B. Bryant, A. Simpson, A. Pacers, H. Taylor.
Best – Bryant, Simpson, L. Fellows, J. Dalgleish, B. Crowhurst, H. Taylor.
Diggers Rest 16.10 (106) d Melton Centrals 9.10 (64).
RESERVES: Macedon 19.14 d Lancefield 0.2, Wallan 12.10 d Woodend-Hesket 3.5, Riddell 17.16 d Romsey 1.0, Diggers Rest 12.7 d Melton Centrals 5.2.
U19.5: Romsey 7.11 d Riddell 4.7, Wallan 10.3 d Woodend-Hesket 8.6, Macedon 14.8 d Gisborne Giants 4.7.
