By Tara Murray
Diggers Rest did what it needed to do to get past Woodend-Hesket in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
It wasn’t the prettiest game from the Burras, but they held the Hawks at arms length for most of the day, winning 15.10 (100)-10.10 (70).
Burras’ playing coach Jamie Lobb said it was a funny game.
“It’s a tricky ground for us and we lost up their last year,” he said.
“We showed some good signs at times and then had lapses and let Woodend get back into the game.
“The guys applied themselves well.”
Cole Laurie kicked three goals for the Burras, but it was three newcomers who impressed Lobb.
Luke Delahey played his best game for the club and David Morrice and Alec Del Papa also had strong games.
“The new guys are fitting in really well,” Lobb said.
“You always need three or four weeks to see where they fit in with the side.”
The win moves the Burras to 6-0, the only undefeated team.
Lobb said they did not expect to be sitting undefeated at this stage.
“We’re traditionally slow starters,” he said.
“We haven’t played our best footy yet, but we’re still 6-0.
“We haven’t been able to have our best side on the field either. We’ve always had four, five or six players out.”
Lobb said once they had their full list available there would be some difficult decisions to make.
He said everyone who was stepping up was playing their role.
“We’re in the position that not everyone is a walk-up start, where they may have been two or three years ago.”
Diggers Rest this week face Rockbank, before the challenge of playing an in-form Romsey the week after.
Lobb said they will probably rest a few of the older players this week against the winless Rams.
Meanwhile, a familiar face returned to the Diggers Rest colours in the reserves on Saturday.
Tom Gleeson, who captained the senior team to the premiership last season, was back on field for the first time this year. Gleeson moved to Canada after last year’s grand final.
Lobb said it was good to have Gleeson back around the club.
“He’s back in Australia for a month, so he’s going to have a run around.
“He came down and trained during the week and the boys were happy to see him back on the track.”
In other senior matches at the weekend, it was a tough weekend for Melton Centrals and Rockbank.
Centrals lost to Rupertswood 15.12 (102)-5.5 (35) in their most disappointing performance of the season. Dylan Weir kicked three goals in the loss.
For the Rams, they suffered a 33.34 (232)-1.1 (7) loss to Romsey. Ash Gray was the best for the Rams.
MORE RDFL NEWS
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