In a tenacious Riddell League contest where neither side relented, Diggers Rest senior footballers came from behind on Saturday to topple the previously unbeaten ladder-leader Riddell by eight points.
Goals were at a premium, and on their new ground the reigning premiers outscored the Bombers by three goals to one in the last quarter for a deserving victory.
“I always say you get more from a loss than a win, so if we fall short we will have plenty to work on the following week,” Riddell coach Aaron Bray said in the lead-in to the match of the round.
Diggers Rest was happy to prevail 8.6 (54) to 6.10 (46)
The Bombers have the bye this Saturday so they have plenty of time to reflect; Diggers Rest head north to Kyneton for their first ever match at the Showgrounds.
MEMORIAL MATCH
The other close seventh-round contest was at Gilbert Gordon Reserve at Woodend.
The home side played plenty of good football in the first half to lead Romsey 7.4 to 6.3 at the long interval, a big improvement on their performance against Wallan seven days earlier.
The Redbacks were without their interleague reps Jack Jedwab and Nathan Rayment.
However, the inclusion of versatile new recruit Nathan Perrone (ex-Craigieburn) was rewarded with two goals in his first game.
Scoring dried up in the second half for the Hawks, as they were restricted to a miserable 1.5.
Romsey ended up with a 9.10 (64) to 8.9 (57) victory in what was the annual Brian ‘Muscles’ Lee Memorial match for these two sides.
How either would have wished a ‘Muscles’ reincarnation could be included on their list, such was the quality of the former Bowen Medal winner and life member of both clubs.
The medal for best afield was awarded to evergreen Romsey utility player Chris Petroro, while Woodend-Hesket coach Ty Coppinger received the medal for best on court in the A-grade netball as the full strength Hawks put the Redbacks to the sword with a huge win.
Once again the irrepressible ball winner Daniel Toman was listed as the Hawks’ best.
Earlier in the afternoon, Romsey Reserves gave the battling Hawks a football lesson.
KYNETON REVIVAL?
Kyneton supporters who travelled to Melton Centrals were much happier than after their side’s defeat at the hands of Macedon in round 6.
This time, the Tigers restricted Centrals to just 10 scoring shots for the entire match.
Coach Ethan Foreman will now be preparing his troops for a much tougher test against Diggers Rest this Saturday.
The fleet-footed Caleb Fisher, Ethan Turner and Josh Smith were named as the best three for the Tigers who ended up with a 43-points margin.
Foreman kicked four the the side’s 10 goals, and Fisher three.
The Kyneton Reserves downed Centrals by 56 points, but the Under 19.5s went down to a strong Wallan combination by 20 points.
Predictably, Macedon followed up its good win over Kyneton by accounting for an injury-riddled Lancefield by 58 points at Tony Clarke Reserve.
The Cats were always in command with Lachlan Hay turning in his second big game in succession (five goals).
Lancefield welcomed Zach Webb back from injury, and Darcy Giles was listed as the Tigers’ best.
Macedon now goes to Romsey and will take heart from Woodend-Hesket’s determined performance against the Redbacks.
The Riddell League will be hoping that more clubs apply themselves and supply club notes for the match day ‘Record’ publication.
Last Saturday’s absence of this information attracted some unfavourable comments from spectators.
