THE Graeme Wright Memorial Cup is back in South Bendigo’s hands after the Bloods defeated Sandhurst in Saturday’s sixth round in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy.
On a day where the Bloods honour one of their great clubmen and a former coach, South Bendigo won all three footy clashes with the Dragons at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
Inaccuracy would prove costly for Sandhurst which scored 2.10 in the first half of the senior clash as the Bloods opened up a 15-point lead by the long break.
At five minutes to go in the first half Sandhurst was within two points.
A run of five unanswered goals by the Bloods on either side of half-time gave them a 33-point lead.
Sandhurst scored two of the last three goals in the third term as South Bendigo led 63-36 going into the final quarter.
An early goal lifted Sandhurst’s spirits, but back-to-back goals by the Bloods put the result beyond doubt.
Goals flowed freely for the Bloods as they scored 5.5 in the last to complete a 98-50 victory.
Gun recruit James Frawley kicked a match-high five goals as James Davies slotted three and Coen Harker added two.
Sandhurst’s attack was led by co-coach Fergus Greene on three.
Best for South Bendigo were Tom Templeton, Brody Haddow, key defender Will Allen, Mac Cameron, Jack English against his former club, and James Frawley.
A Bloods’ line-up coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, regained top spot on the ladder.
The Dragons’ best were Nick Stagg, Liam Ireland, Jaxon Howard, Hamish McNamara, Caleb Connick and Fergus Greene.
Those added to the injured list for a Sandhurst team which has Bryce Curnow as non-playing co-coach included Cooper Smith, Jacob Austin, Connor Sexton, Hamish McNamara and Nick Stagg.
Gisborne fans were again treated to a final quarter fightback by their team against Eaglehawk at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne led 71-46 at half-time.
Quarter three belonged to the Hawks as they slammed on seven goals and kept the Bulldogs to a goal.
The reigning premier led by 11 points going into the last term.
Goals by James Gray and Shane Clough helped Gisborne regain the lead at just over 12 minutes to play.
After both teams added two points each it was the classy Pat McKenna who slotted his fourth goal to seal a 101-94 victory for the red, white and blue.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were James Gray and Zac Denahy on three and two.
Bailey Ilsley marked a welcome return to Eaglehawk’s line-up by kicking four goals as Ben and Nick Thompson added two each.
Best for Gisborne were James Gray, captain Zac Vescovi, Brad Bernacki, Dylan Johnstone, Zac Denahy and Pat McKenna.
Ruckman Callum Heath, captain Billy Evans, Ben Thompson, Bailey Ilsley, Joel Mullen and Nick Thompson were best for the Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Eaglehawk.
It’s 49 wins in a row for Golden Square against Kangaroo Flat.
The Bulldogs charged to a 43-12 lead by quarter-time of Saturday’s match at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
The margin stayed as it was by the long break after both teams scored 3.5 in the second quarter.
As the Bulldogs scored 5.6 in the third Kangaroo Flat did well to add 4.1.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Roos won the last, 13-10, but it was the Bulldogs who marked a 100-61 victory.
Archie Eaton and Tom Strauch led Golden Square’s attack on three goals each as Dermott Bell booted two.
The in-form Nick Keogh kicked a match-high four goals for the Kangaroos.
Archie Edwards, Tom Strauch, Jack Stewart, Jack McMahon, Noah Warfe and Tommi Turner were best for a Bulldogs team coached by Brad Eaton, non-playing, and Liam Barrett, playing.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Aaron Nevins, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Nick Keogh, Jake Hywood, Jay Newman and Zach Bird.
Nine goals by James Schischka were among the highs in Strathfieldsaye’s big win against Broadford at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Storm raced to a 45-2 lead by quarter-time and then added 7.8 as they kept Broadford scoreless in the second.
Storm added 12 goals in the third and 10 in the last to complete a 237-14 victory.
Strong marking targets in Schischka and Jed Brereton capped Storm’s dominance with nine and five goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for Storm were Pat Blake and Siologa Siu, four; Ezekiel Cousins, three; and Zach Charles and Riley Mulquiny on two.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Pat Blake, James Schischka, Hunter Lawrence, Daniel Clohesy, Zach Charles and Mitch McClure.
Adam Miles, Taiten Thomas, Riley Edwards, Louis Thompson, Charles Neilson and Rhys Carman were best for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford.
Castlemaine had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
South Bendigo 172 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 205, 16; Strathfieldsaye 173, 16; Gisborne 142, 16; Golden Square 128, 8; Castlemaine 100, 8; Eaglehawk 99, 8; Kangaroo Flat 59, 4; Broadford 14, 0.
Inter-league football and netball returns to Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo next Saturday when Bendigo takes on Ovens and Murray.
Footy action kicks off with the under-18s match at noon.
The senior footy match will start at 2.20pm.
On the netball court it will be the 15-under teams in action from 11.15am and 17-under from 12.45pm.
The open netball match begins at 2.30pm.
The Bendigo FNL marks Indigenous Round on May 30 and 31.
On the 30th it will be Golden Square against South Bendigo at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street from 2.20pm.
Eaglehawk takes on Castlemaine at C & M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Broadford will play Gisborne at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve.
A stand-alone match on May 31 features Sandhurst against Strathfieldsaye at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 2.20pm.
Kangaroo Flat has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
18 James Schischka, S’saye.
16 Pat McKenna, Gis.
15 Brock Harvey, SB; Nick Keogh, KF.
12 Cobi Maxted, Sh; Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Archie Eaton, GS; Alex Smith, SB.
10 Pat Blake, S’saye, Michael Hartley, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Harrison Sheahan, Cm.
9 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Ben Thompson, Eh.
8 Zach Charles, S’saye; Brody Haddow, SB; Archie Rixon, Cm; Tom Strauch, GS.
7 Tom Campbell, Sh; James Frawley, SB; James Gray, Gis.; Fergus Greene, Sh; Bailey Henderson, Cm; Matt Merrett, Gis.; Jack Thompson, Eh.
