South tames Tigers for second time

SOUTH Bendigo tamed the Kyneton Tigers for the second time this season when they met in Saturday’s thirteenth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League

Stakes were high as the fifth-placed Bloods took on the fourth-placed Tigers at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

In round four, South Bendigo won at Kyneton by three points.

Bolstered by the return of coach Nathan Horbury – who was out via COVID protocol the previous week, and gun onballer Cooper Leon from a lengthy injury lay-off, South Bendigo led 31-8 at quarter-time.

The Tigers won the second term, 20-13.

Led by the play of Andrew van Heumen in defence, Will Keck, and Samuel Maher, it was the Bloods who scored 3.3 to just three behinds in the vital third term.

The Kyneton finished strongly as the side added 3.6 to 1.2, but the Bloods took the four premiership points in a 73-55 victory.

Keck led the attack on four goals as Brock Harvey chipped in with three and Michael Herlihy added two.

Kyneton’s leading goalkickers were Ryan Pretty with three, and Rhys Magin on two.

Best for the Bloods included Michael Herlihy, Sam Langley, and captain Zac Hare who wore zero on his guernsey as part of the TAC and AFL Victoria Road Safety Round.

Kyneton’s best were Harrison Huntley, Louis Phillips, Mason Crozier, Louis Thompson, Steven Georgiou and Ryan Pretty.

At five rounds to go in the home-and-away series the race to decide fourth and fifth is far from complete.

Saturday’s win lifted the Bloods to an 8-5 record and fourth rung on the ladder.

South Bendigo is now a win clear of Kyneton, but also under the pump from Eaglehawk which marked an upset 84-77 victory on Golden Square’s turf at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.

The Hawks led 62-31 at half-time and then withstood a Bulldogs’ fightback.

Best for the Travis Matheson-coached Eaglehawk were Ben Thompson, Lewin Davis, Dylan Hanley and Billy Evans.

Sandhurst is a win behind the Tigers and Hawks after the Dragons won 119-56 on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Dower Park.

Top teams Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye marked big wins at home.