An uncharacteristic first quarter that yielded Gisborne just four points on Good Friday proved to be too big a hurdle to overcome.
A revitalised South Bendigo led throughout, and drew clear in the last quarter to eventually win by 27 points.
It was hard for Bulldogs supporters to equate their opening round victory by 160 points at Kangaroo Flat with what unfolded at Gardiner Reserve against the Bloods in fine and warm conditions.
For some seasons Bendigo-based clubs have not looked forward to the journey south to tackle Gisborne, but this time the visitors seized the initiative with a dominating first term, and maintained pressure throughout.
Gisborne was without mercurial forward Pat McKenna, and to score just 10 goals on heir own familiar territory was well below par.
South Bendigo was well drilled a determined, and led 4.2 to just three ponts at the first change.
The deficit was 22 points after an even second term, and the Bulldogs produced some of the best football for the match in the third quarter, with spectators finding voice.
Many onlookers expected Gisborne to take control in the last quarter, but the Bloods were out to cause an upset, and went on to score a morale boosting 15.8 (98) to 10.11 (71) victory.
Gisborne’s best were listed as defender Zac Vescovi, Thomas Werner who finished with three goals, Brad Bernacki,Jed Denahy, james Gray and ruckman Braidon Blake.
The visitors spread their scoring, with the best players being Jack Swatton, Thomas Brereton and Anthony Zimmerman.
Gisborne Reserves and Under 18s also had convincing wins.
The Bloods’ Reserves outplayed Gisborne to the tune of 15.11 (101) to 6.4 (40), and the Under 18s final score was 9.12 (66) to 4.11 (35).
So there was plenty for Gisborne’s football brains trust to think about over the Easter period, and eading into this Saturday’s third round encounter against Strathfieldsaye at Gardiner Rseerve.
FIVE WINS IN NETBALL
Gisborne netballers made a clean sweep of their five matches.
The A-graders bounced back from the opening round defeat at Kangaroo Flat, winning a one-sided affair.
Senior coach Tarryn Rymer had stated the performance against Kangaroo Flat was not up to the standard Gisborne can usually produce, expressing confidence the side would bounce back.
And it certainly did! The home side deserved the 51-35 victory.
As an illustration of Gisborne’s netball depth, the scores in the other four matches were:
A-Reserve: Gisborne 44 d South Bendigo 33.
B-grade: Gisborne 57 d South Bendigo 27.
B-Reserve: Gisborne 40 d South Bendigo 27.
17&Under: Gisborne 46 d South Bendigo 19.
Collectively across the five matches, it was Gisborne 238 goals to 141 from the visitors.
