Kyneton was two goals up with less than a minute and a half to play – and didn’t come away with the win against Sandhurst at the weekend.
The Tigers had to settle for a draw after two late Sandhurst goals levelled the scores, 14.12 (96)-13.18 (96), in the Bendigo Football League clash.
Tigers coach Luke Beattie was disappointed, but pleased with how his players performed.
“The boys fought the game out really well and I’m pleased with them,” he said.
“We were down on personnel. We lost one player in the first 10 minutes of the game and were a rotation down all game. We then had a player sent off with 10 minutes to go in the last quarter.
“Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.”
The Tigers led for most of the game, including a game-high 25 points in the second quarter. The margin was back to three goals at the main break.
Beattie said they never felt like they had the game in their hands, even when they led in the dying minutes.
“We knew, with one less rotation, we weren’t running across the game the way we did in the first half,” he said.
“They had the breeze in the final quarter and we were down a player on the field. We never put the game to bed.”
Ben Weightman finished with five goals for the Tigers.
The Tigers, with three wins and a draw, are on top of the ladder.
“It’s been an outstanding start to the season,” Beattie said. “The boys have gelled well.
“Hamish and Josh Govan and Rhys Magin have been really impressive leading the young group.
“We’re starting to find we can match it with Strathfieldsaye, Golden Square and Sandhurst.”
Beattie said he hoped Harrison Huntley, who received a corkie to the calf in the first quarter, would be right for the Tigers’ next game after the interleague break.
A Bendigo league side will take on the Ballarat league this weekend.
In other games, Gisborne suffered a 14.8 (92)-13.9 (87) defeat at the hands of Strathfieldsaye.
