By Tara Murray
The Macedon Ranges derby lived up to expectations in the Bendigo Football League, with Kyneton winning a one-point thriller against Gisborne.
With both teams hoping to play finals, the game took on more significance than some previous match-ups between the two sides.
It was the Tigers who came away with the win, 15.12 (102)-15.11 (101).
Tigers coach Luke Beattie said it was a rare occurrence to have both teams firing at the same time.
“It was a little closer than we would have liked,” he said. “They are playing pretty good footy.
“There was a lot on the line for both clubs. We’re trying to fight it out with a second chance in finals on the line, while they are fighting to play finals
“The game lived up to the hype.”
In an evenly contested match, it was the Tigers who gained the upper hand in the third quarter and looked set for a win late in the game.
But the Bulldogs had other ideas and pushed the Tigers right to the end.
“Both teams brought a lot of pressure at times,” Beattie said. “We were able to get a little bit of a gap in the third quarter, we made the most of our chances.
“We were looking comfortable with eight minutes to go and then they kicked two or three goals to get back to one point.
“They were going inside 50 when the siren sounded. We shouldn’t have let them get back into that position.”
Ethan Foreman kicked four goals for the winners. Harrison Huntley, Rhys Magin and Jordan Mangan were all standouts.
For the Bulldogs, Jaidyn Owen, Thomas Wood, Joshua Grabham and Ethan Minns kicked two goals apiece. Minns and Owen were named their best.
The win keeps the Tigers in third, while Gisborne remains a game outside the top five.
Beattie said they are where they wanted to be.
“Our aim was to put ourselves in the position to finish top three,” he said.
“The win was particularly important in that aspect. We face Eaglehawk [second] and Sandhurst [fifth] the next two weeks and both will be a great challenge.
“The league is going from strength to strength … there’s no such thing as an easy game.
“The next couple of weeks gives us an opportunity to refine our game.”
In the A-grade netball, Gisborne had a bye.
