By Trevor Jackson
NORTH GAMBIER 9.5 (59) D EAST GAMBIER 7.14 (56)
NO ONE would begrudge a forward a few behinds on a wet day for football, but East Gambier would rue too many behinds as the Bulldogs succumbed to North Gambier by just three points.
The Bulldogs were staring down their first victory of the 2023 Western Border football season, but the Round 9 clash went the other way in a nail-biter.
Up to the main break there was no suggestion the Bulldogs would come close to the Tigers, with just one major score and seven behinds in a half of football.
In contrast, the Tigers looked on top, with 3.1 (19) in the opening term, then another three goals and two behinds in the second to go to the long break up by 26 points.
However, someone forgot to tell East and the Bulldogs then staged an impressive come-from-behind effort that fell just short.
In the third quarter East held North to just two goals and one behind, while banging on six major scores and one minor.
That closed the margin to just two points and with the momentum flowing their way, the Bulldogs were up and about.
In the final term East held North to one goal and one behind, but could not take advantage.
They put on six behinds, a disappointing result for such a big effort.
Sam Stafford was best in front of goals with four majors for the Tigers, while for East, Nick Lock kicked two.
