By Trevor Jackson
SOUTH GAMBIER 8.4 (52) d WEST GAMBIER 0.9 (9)
IT was a tough day for sport on Saturday and Round 12 of the Bendigo Bank Western Border Football League displayed that difficulty.
Out at Blue Lake Sports Park the going was heavy, with South recording a comfortable victory in the muddy conditions.
The opening term saw neither side able to record a goal, with the Roos in front fleetingly.
South went on to kick five straight majors in the second quarter, while West could only manage one behind.
By the long break the margin had crept out to 28 points and the Roos were in trouble.
In fact, as the game went on West was unable to find a major score, not reaching double figures.
South simply pushed forward at every opportunity and found goals in what was not a pretty contest.
Brayden Kain managed to find three majors, while Charlie Fisher chipped in with two.
MILLICENT 11.11 (77) d CASTERTON SANDFORD 4.3 (27)
Over at Island Park the Cats struggled against the Saints, despite the inclusion of Matthew Stokes, Brad Ottons and Max Rooke.
The big names stood tall in the wet conditions, but were unable to stop the Millicent juggernaut.
The Saints methodically competed and built its score each quarter and by the long break the margin was 35 points.
That was always going to be a tough task for the Cats to pull back and they struggled, with only two behinds in the third term, while Millicent put on another two majors.
In the end the Saints were simply too strong, showing what they can achieve even in wet conditions.
This time Gene Robinson was not the major goal scorer, but did finish with three.
It was Caleb Williams who topped the list with five majors, while Jacob Carger also contributed multiples with two.
No Cat kicked more than one goal, which did include Stokes to add to the excitement of the day.
EAST GAMBIER 16.8 (104) d NORTH GAMBIER 3.7 (25)
The 2021 WBFL season has certainly been a tough one for tipsters, with North Gambier and East Gambier two typical sides.
Both have experienced an up-and-down season, with the Bulldogs the big winners on Saturday.
The scene was set early, with the Tigers held scoreless in the opening term, while the Bulldogs banged on three goals to lead by 19 points.
North turned that around in the second term, closing the margin to just three points, but the joy was short-lived, as East ran rampant in the third term.
Seven major scores – plus three behinds – to North’s two behinds blew the game apart, with the Bulldogs then leading by 46 points, a huge margin in the conditions.
The pain continued in the final term for the home side as East put on another five goals to run the game out.
Plenty of Bulldogs put their hands up in front of goals, with 10 individual goal kickers.
Beau Nunan led the field with three, while Shaun Lock, Shem Balshaw, Grady Janeway and Todd Lockwood kicked two each.
Nick Moretti kicked two for the Tigers.
