The wet weather and low temperatures added an extra element to the Macedon Ranges derby between Gisborne and Kyneton in the Bendigo Football League on Saturday.
In an always highly anticipated game, it was the higher ranked Bulldogs that came out on top, winning 9.15 (69)-0.1 (1).
It’s a second straight match where the Bulldogs have restricted their opponents to one point.
Bulldogs playing coach Clinton Young said he hadn’t seen anything like it before with the weather.
Young had to watch from the sidelines, as he’s serving a suspension.
“It was pretty similar to a lot of games in the area,” he said.
“It was so unique seeing the boys standing there at three quarter time freezing. It was that cold, one of the boys came off with pretty much hypothermia.
“It springs to mind as some of the more bizarre conditions I’m seen in my career.”
While Young said they were unlikely to review the game in depth, he said he was happy with how the boys stood up in difficult conditions.
He said they came through relatively unscathed.
“I’m proud of the boys, they pushed through the conditions to play some good footy
“To keep them to one point, the boys played well all day. I was happy how they fought it out.”
Pat McKenna was a standout up forward kicking five goals, while Young said Brad Bernacki was really clean with the ball in hand.
Defenders Tim Walsh and James Ferry were also among the best, patrolling the half back line.
Ben Xiriha was named Kyneton’s best. The Tigers sit seventh with their finals hopes all but over.
The win is the Bulldogs ninth and they sit second heading into a competition wide bye.
Young said they were happy with how the season had gone so far.
He said they had reassessed things at the mid point of the season and had two good wins since.
“We haven’t set a goal to finish in a certain spot,” he said.
“We want to continue to get better. If we can continue to improve our game, then the results will take care of itself.”
In the A-grade netball, Gisborne beat Kyneton 34-31 in tough conditions.
