The Bendigo Bank MCDFNL travelled to Backhaus Oval in Bendigo on Saturday to do battle with the Loddon Valley Football League.
With wins to the MCDFNL in all grades of Netball and the Under 17 football the senior football team were looking for the clean sweep and with a four goal lead at the first change it looked likely that it would eventuate.
However the Loddon Valley team had other ideas and took control late in the game to run away with a 40 point win.
The 20.10.130 to 13.12.90 scoreline does not do the game justice as it was a close hard fought encounter throughout and it was only in the final minutes of the game that Loddon Valley broke free to kick the final six goals of the game.
The MCDFNL kicked with the breeze in the first quarter and had complete control of the game kicking five goals to one which the LVFL kicked after the siren, which gave them some momentum in the second quarter. Glen Scholts was providing a target up forward for the home team and Captain Luke Mitchell was marking strongly and setting up many forward moves in his best afield game for the home team. The LVFL had hit the front by 5 points at half time and were looking very confident as they wore down the lead of the MCDFNL.
Jeff McMurtrie and Brad Rhode scored early goals against the strong breeze for the LVFL in the third term to lead by 17 points, but the MCDFNL fought back with the next four goals through Tom Reece, Wes Bell, Matt Giri and Nick Locandro to lead by nine points at the final change.
Lachlan Edwards ran the ball around the wing from the first centre bounce and Jackson Bowen Marked strongly and goaled into the tricky breeze that had made scoring goals at the clubroom end difficult throughout the day. This gave a 15 point lead to the MCDFNL, but it was short lived as Glen Scholts goaled and then Brad Rhode kicked truly to reduce the lead to three points.
Matt Giri was at his elusive best for the MCDFNL and was on target after being on the end of some good work from Brandon Turner and the MCDFNL led by nine points and looking a real chance in a see sawing battle, but the bigger bodies of the Loddon Valley were winning the ball in the middle and they kicked the next three goals to take the lead at the 20 minute mark.
Once the LVFL took the lead, the spirit of the visitors was broken and the next six goals were scored by the Loddon Valley with former Harcourt player Jeff McMurtrie kicking three of them as they raced away to win by 40 points at the final siren.
Football Match Details
MCDFNL v LVFL Under 17 Match details
MCDFNL v LVFL Senior Match Details
Netball Results
15 & Under: MCDFNL 49 def LVNA 21 Best: Maddy Ruggles
17 & Under: MCDFNL 34 def LVNA 33 Best: Brylie Parker
A Grade: MCDFNL 45 def LVNA 33 Best: Fiona Themann
Football & Netball Photographs
MCDFNL v LVFL Junior Photos
MCDFNL v LVFL Senior Photos
Last Modified on 14/06/2011 12:49