Finals time arrives early for LBU Cats

IT will be a finals-type intensity as Lockington Bamawm United tackles Heathcote in Saturday’s sixteenth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.

The LBU Cats have home-ground advantage at Nichol Trading Oval at Lockington to take on the ladder-leading Saints.

After consecutive defeats the heat’s on LBU to hold its place in the top five and stay in contention for a tilt at back-to-back premierships.

In last Saturday’s play, LBU was beaten at White Hills by 57 points.

Heathcote won a great battle with Mount Pleasant at what was Purple Day for the Saints at Barrack Reserve by three points.

Four wins in a row has put Leitchville Gunbower level with the Cats on 28 premiership points and LBU is more than 17 per cent clear of the Bombers.

In the final three rounds LBU takes on Heathcote at home, Elmore away, and Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.

The run for the Bombers is at the home of the Harlowe Huntly Hawks this Saturday, Colbinabbin at Gunbower, and a bye in the 18th round.

Another big match this Saturday will be at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street, North Bendigo where the Bulldogs take on White Hills.

Both teams swapped spots last Saturday.

The Demons jumped to the second rung after a big win against LBU, and North Bendigo slid to third after a 31-point loss to Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower.

Victory will be crucial in a bid to secure a top-three finish.

Mount Pleasant is back on home turf at Toolleen to take on Elmore and the Blues put in a superb effort on the Saints’ turf as Ben Weightman, Will Wallace, Adam Baird, and Mitch Rovers were among the best.

Elmore is back in action after the bye.

The Harlowe Huntly Hawks are home at Strauch Reserve to take on the rampaging Leitchville Gunbower.

The Bombers will start hot favourite to mark a fifth consecutive win and stay in the finals race.

Colbinabbin has the bye.