IT was a tale of different results in a somewhat truncated 13th round of the Riddell District Football Netball League, with four games played compared to the usual five.
Lancefield was one of three teams sitting out of the weekend thanks to the bye, but Wallan and Romsey still had home games to negotiate.
Wallan now look odds on to claim the minor premiership, with its 49-point win over Woodend-Hesket made even better by main challenger Diggers Rest dropping a three-goal lead to Macedon, leaving the Magpies two games clear atop the ladder, and an incredible four games clear of the third-placed Cats.
It was a very slow start to proceedings at Greenhill Reserve as heavy rain took hold, with both teams kicking one goal apiece for the quarter – Lachlan Smart kicking the sole goal for the Magpies as they led 9-8 at the first break.
The Magpies took control of the game in the second quarter. Two goals to Smart, plus efforts from Sean Morris, Shaun Stewart and Domenic Luci meant the margin had crept up to 28 points by the main break, 44-16.
A fairly even second quarter saw Smart kick goals number four and five for the afternoon as he continued his campaign to pinch the league leading goalkicker title, but Woodend kicked three goals to remain interested, trailing 34-58 at the final change.
Another goal to the Hawks at the six-minute mark meant there was still a chance, but Smart had the final say, sealing the game with his sixth, before the Magpies went ballistic, kicking five goals in 15 minutes, including three in a three-minute burst.
Smart had his seventh, while Blaide Dickson got on the scoresheet with two late goals as the Magpies won 14.11 (95) to 7.4 (46).
Stewart played well to be best-on-ground, while Smart’s seven goals was also noteworthy. The ever-consistent Steven Boyall, Chris Stewart, Riley Gilchrist and Sean Morris completed the best.
Romsey nearly pulled off a heist at Romsey Park, falling five points short of defeating Kyneton.
In very heavy conditions, Kyneton broke away in the opening quarter, kicking two goals to the Redbacks’ sole effort from William Di Pietro to lead 16-8 at the opening change.
Romsey fought back well in the second term, kicking two goals close the gap, trailing 25-29 at the main break.
It was the third quarter where the game seemed to get away from the Redbacks, with Kyneton flexing its muscle to kick four of the five goals of the term and increase its lead to 21 points at the final change, 55-34.
With the first goal of the final term going the way of the Tigers, it looked as though it was mission impossible for Romsey in the wet, but nevertheless, it mounted a charge.
Two goals in five minutes left the door ajar with the margin at 15 points, and it was game on when Corey Pertzel closed the gap to five points at the 28-minute mark.
But Kyneton found a way to kick a nerve-settler, with Jack Jedwab’s goal on the siren not enough as the Redbacks fell 8.15 (63) to 10.8 (68).
Pertzel was superb, while Nathan Hoy, Nathan Rayment, Nathan Blair, Ethan Beer and Ash Millane were all named in the best.
In the A-grade netball competition, Wallan’s grip on top spot loosened with a 14-goal loss to Woodend, 32-46.
The Hawks had just enough to respond to all of Wallan’s challenges throughout the afternoon, leading 13-9 at the first change, before the Magpies closed the gap marginally in the second quarter, scoring 10 goals to nine to trail 19-22 at the main break.
The third quarter was key for Woodend, as it scored 13 goals to seven to extend its lead to nine goals at the final change, leading 35-26, before running out the game with an 11-goal to six final term.
Meantime, Romsey and Kyneton could not be separated, playing out the second draw of the season with scores deadlocked at 42-apiece.
Kyneton shot away to a good start, scoring 17 goals to nine to lead early, but Romsey started chipping away at the margin.
The Redbacks scored 12 goals to nine in the second to trail 21-26 at the main break, before roaring back into the game in the third quarter by adding 11 goals to seven, trailing 32-33 at the final change.
With the result on the line, Romsey scored 10 goals to nine in the last but couldn’t quite find the goal which could have given it its third win of the season, instead settling for a share of the points.
Wallan has the bye in round 14, while Lancefield take on Romsey in the classic rivalry at Lancefield Park.
The senior women’s had a competition-wide bye, with Lancefield returning to action on Friday night against Riddell.