Dogs dominate clash with Sandhurst

GOLDEN Square dominated Saturday’s round fourteen clash with Sandhurst as the long-time Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League rivals met at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Stung by a home-ground loss to Eaglehawk the previous Saturday, the Bulldogs were snarling from the first contest against the Dragons.

The Christian Carter-coached Golden Square led 22-8 at quarter-time and 39-10 by the half.

A Blair Holmes goal early in the third lifted Dragons’ hopes, but the blue and gold then slammed on 7.2 to gain a 64-point lead at a quarter to play.

It was an evenly fought final term which Golden Square won, 22-17, on the way to a 105-36 victory.

Leader in the race for the Ron Best Medal as the league’s top goalkicker, Joel Brett booted five as Jayden Burke added three.

A veteran of more than 200 games, Holmes led Sandhurst’s attack on two majors.

Bulldogs’ onballer Ryan Hartley was best afield as defender Jon Coe and captain Jack Geary won plenty of the footy as Jack Hickman, Joel Brett and Liam Barrett also starred.

Sandhurst’s best were Isaac Carracher, Cooper Smith, James Coghlan, Jake McLean, Jeremy Rodi and Blair Holmes.

It was a disappointing result for Sandhurst’s Lee Coghlan who marked his 200th senior match.

A premiership player for the maroon and blue, Coghlan won the Michelsen Medal as an 18-year-old in 2009.

One of Golden Square’s most consistent and hardest working players Jake Thrum also marked a key milestone, playing his 100th senior match for the club.

Saturday’s victory meant Golden Square held third place, four points ahead of South Bendigo.

The Ash Connick-coached Sandhurst has a six and eight record and is two wins behind the fifth and sixth-placed Eaglehawk and Kyneton.

Gisborne is now two wins clear on top of the ladder after a 58-point victory against Strathfieldsaye at Gardiner Reserve.

Bulldogs’ captain Pat McKenna kicked eight goals in the 116-58 victory in the clash between first and second.

Eaglehawk jumped into the five after an 84-point win against Maryborough at Canterbury Park.

The Hawks are .63 per cent clear of Kyneton which beat Kangaroo Flat.

South Bendigo won at Castlemaine by 97 points.