Tara Murray
Riddell got its season back on track with a hard fought win against Wallan in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
The reigning premiers have had an up and down first half of the season with injuries taking their toll.
But on Saturday, the Bombers showed they couldn’t be discounted as they snuck home against Wallan, 5.7 (37)-3.10 (28) at Greenhill Reserve.
Bombers coach Justin Belleville said it was some of the hardest conditions he had seen on the footy field.
“It was a good win, a tough day with the wind,” he said.
“The wind went down the middle of the ground and made it impossible to kick against it. It was one of those days you needed a bit of luck.
“It was a good day to take the points.”
Belleville said the difference in the end was their ability to take their chances when they arose. All of the Bombers scores were kicked to one end of the ground due to the wind.
“We tackled really well and we held our position well, it was a good day.”
It was all single goal kickers across the ground.
Tommy Alkemade, Brad Mundy and Nathan Croft were named the Bombers best.
Belleville said it was nice to get a win like that after a tough few weeks.
“We’ve had a lot of players out,” he said. “A lot of young kids and twos players have put in a really good effort.
“Over the last month, we’ve had six to 10 players out with injuries. Hopefully get them back soon.”
The win brings the Bombers back to 4-4 and they sit fifth on the ladder. They are one of three sides on the same record.
Belleville said the win brings them back to where they need to be having dropped one they shouldn’t have to Melton Centrals.
“This win means nothing if we can’t keep going,” he said.
“Four and four, we would have taken it and we wouldn’t have. There’s lots of other teams going through the same things that we were.
“We’re half way through the year, so we’ll take it at this stage. We still have a lot of improvement to come.”
Belleville said they wouldn’t know until Tuesday night but there were hopeful of two or three players returning this week.
The Bombers this Saturday face the Western Rams at Ian Cowie Reserve.
“We certainly can’t take them lightly,” he said. “We have to keep winning to have a chance to play finals.”
In other results, Macedon upset Romsey to move to a 4-4 record, while Diggers beat Melton Centrals in a low scoring affair.
Lancefield made it win number two for the season, beating the Western Rams.
