Bendigo has recorded only their second ever victory against North Ballarat last Saturday at Eureka Stadium, upsetting the reigning premiers flag unfurling. The Bombers overcame a slow start and early injuries to pile on the last four goals of the first quarter, and turn a 10 point deficit into a 12 point quarter time lead. Despite a fierce third term comeback by the Roosters, the Bombers had done enough to hold on by 27 points and claim their first victory of the season.
After a big 76 point defeat at the hands of the Northern Bullants in round one, the Bombers were keen for a better performance in round two, but their start did not reflect that there would be a change in fortunes for them. The Roosters – playing their first game of the season after the bye and a Foxtel Cup defeat on April 2 – started the better of the two sides, kicking three of the first four goals of the game, jumping out to a 10 point lead at the 19 minute mark of the first term. The Roosters were fielding only six members of their premiership winning side to open the season, with off season departures (AFL recruits and retirements) and injuries causing Gerard FitzGerald to play a very inexperienced line up.
Goals to Brayden Norris, Lachie George and Aaron Edwards got the Roosters off to the best start possible, with their linking off half back a key to their numerous moves inside forward 50. Down the other end, Bendigo were struggling to find system up forward, with Ariel Steinberg their only shining light early in the game, dominating across half forward and kicking their only goal. This however changed as Bendigo piled on the last four goals of the quarter to head into the break 12 points in front. Goals to Andrew Welsh, Jay Neagle, Kyle Reimers and Tory Dickson reflected the visitors ascendancy in the middle, as they were able to quickly win the ball out of the middle, and push the ball forward. The one negative of the first term for the Bombers was the early loss of Scott Gumbleton to a hamstring strain.
The Bombers dominance continued into the second quarter as they added six of the first seven goals of the term to take a commanding 42 point lead at the 18 minute mark. Bombers ruckman Tom Campbell was making the most of the absence of Rooster Orren Stephenson, and gave his midfield first use of the ball across the afternoon, which was evident by the end of game hitout stats of 39 – 18 in favour of the Bombers.
In contrast to their first quarter, Bendigo were opening up the space in their forward 50, with the likes of Matt Little and Dickson given space to run into and lead. Two goals each for the term to each of the off season recruits helped the Bombers to a 42 point half time lead.
North Ballarat were not seeing enough of the football inside their forward 50 in the second term, and the third quarter did not start off the way they would have liked. Bendigo extended their lead to 48 points just one minute into the quarter as Dickson kicked his fourth of the game. To their credit North Ballarat challenged in the third term, but in the early stages each time they got a two goal run on, Bendigo would answer. It started with goals to Daniel Pratt and Edwards, which was answered by Ricky Dyson for the Bombers.
Jandre Slabbert and George then got another two goals in a row for the Roosters to reduce the margin to 32 points, but again down the other end Little marked 15 metres out to kick his third. The Roosters were still unable to break the five goal barrier the Bombers were gallantly protecting, but like the last eight minutes of the first term, the Roosters were about to mount their own challenge. The home side swung the momentum their way kicking the last four goals of the term to get within striking distance at three quarter time. The Roosters backline led by captain Marc Greig tightened their grip on the Bombers forwards, and with Derick Micallef kicking two in a row, North Ballarat started to find some run. Late goals to Ben Cunnington and Slabbert set up a thrilling finale, with just 15 points separating the two sides.
As the rain started to fall at Eureka Stadium, the first goal was going to be crucial to start the final term, and it went the way of Little with his fourth to give the visitors some breathing space. Bendigo put the Roosters defence under plenty of pressure early in the final term, but the Bombers kept their opponents in the game as six final term behinds saw them unable to end the home team’s chances. While the previous three quarters had seen a minimum of eight goals scored per quarter, the final term was to be a scrappy affair with only three goals scored. While Ben Evans gave the home side a faint glimmer of hope 22 minutes into the final term when his mark and goal reduced the margin to 19 points, best of ground Reimers was soon to end the Roosters chances when he slotted through his second major to see the Bombers run out 27 point victors.
Last Modified on 13/04/2011 14:58