James Murphy
CASTERTON SANDFORD 8.16 (64) d EAST GAMBIER 6.6 (42)
FOR the third time this season Casterton Sandford has secured the points over the Bulldogs.
This time the Cats visited McDonald Park and at the final siren it was a 22-point game.
East Gambier started well with three goals setting up a 14-point quarter-time lead.
The Cats struggled to find the big sticks during that time, scoring just four behinds, before registering their first goal in the second term.
The Bulldogs added another major in the second, while the visitors kicked two, with the home side holding onto a nine-point lead at the main break.
However, the floodgates opened in the “premiership” quarter and Casterton Sandford amassed a total of 11 scoring shots to East’s two.
Only four of those were majors and if the Cats had kicked straighter they would have put the match beyond doubt.
Regardless, it was enough to put the Cats in front and they continued to push away in the fourth term.
Another two goals to the Bulldogs’ one nudged the margin out to 22 and gave the Cats their fourth win of 2024.
Dylan Ayton earned the best-on-ground honours for the victors, with his defensive efforts first class again.
Diarmid Cleary and Callum Currie have also been regulars in the Cats’ best and they impressed again on Saturday, while it was Jackson Gibbs and Hamish McCrae who topped the scoresheets with two goals each.
McCrae’s performance was enough to put him among the best players, with Sam Craig and Alistair McCrae rounding out the list.
East also looked to one of its more experienced heads on the day, with playing coach Jake Dowdy named best on ground.
Reece Lillecrapp performed to a high standard as well, while Mark Rumbelow, Nick Lock, Carl Slape and Alex Dethmore also played well in tough conditions.
