Kyneton’s season is over in the Bendigo Football League after it fell at the first finals hurdle for a second straight year.
Looking to go further than last season, the Tigers faced Eaglehawk in an elimination final on Sunday afternoon.
Nothing separated the two sides in the first two quarters, with the Hawks taking a slim seven-point lead into half-time.
The warning signs were there for the Tigers when the Hawks took their game to another level in the third quarter.
Kicking four goals to one, they increased the margin to 24 points heading into the final quarter.
Any hopes the Tigers had of getting back into the game were quickly ended, with the Hawks running away to win 20.9 (129)-11.8 (74).
Mitchell Scholard kicked four goals for the Tigers, while Nathan Thompson and Hugh Schiavello kicked two goals each. They were all overshadowed by competition-leading goal-kicker Matthew Gretgrix, who kicked nine goals for the Hawks.
Ethan Foreman and Jonno Nash were named the Tigers’ best in the loss.
Meanwhile, in A-grade netball, Gisborne is again through to the second week of the finals after defeating Maryborough in an elimination final.
An 18-goal third quarter set up the 29-goal win for the Bulldogs, who were happy to have their full squad available after some players missed the past two rounds.
The Bulldogs, who won 64-35, will play Golden Square in a do-or-die semi-final on Sunday.
Gisborne’s only other team in finals, its under-18 football side, was knocked out in an elimination final against Eaglehawk.
Gisborne went down 17.6 (108)-8.4 (52).
