Tara Murray
Diggers Rest was left to rue a poor first half as its unbeaten start to the Riddell District Football League season came to an end.
After a thrilling win the previous round against Romsey, the Burras weren’t able to come away with the points against Riddell.
The Bombers claiming the win, 9.17 (71)-9.14 (68).
Burras coach Jamie Lobb said they didn’t play well enough to get the win.
“We deserved to lose that one,” he said.
“We were really poor in the first half. We had enough ball in the first quarter but we didn’t kick straight kicking 1.5. Different scenario if we kick straight.
“Had we played for another two minutes we might have won it. We had the last five or six shots on goal.”
Lobb said he wasn’t sure what was behind the poor half, but they were just very flat and slow to get into the game.
He said they were able to switch on after half time but it was too late.
“We started to play properly,” he said of the second half. “We were all over them, but we left too much to do .
Lobb said Marcus Calvaresi was pretty good and Matthew Krul was good in the ruck, otherwise it was an even performance.
The win sees the Burras slip from first to second, now behind Wallan. Riddell sits in third equal on percentage as the Burras.
Lobb said it was a really good competition this season.
“The competition has really levelled out and there are no easy weeks,” he said. ”You used to be able to rest guys and it’s good to see that it’s more even.
“Even the teams that aren’t winning games are very competitive.”
Lobb said they were happy with where the team was sitting, especially with so many new guys coming into the squad.
He said like many other teams they were missing a number of players through injury and illness.
“We have eight players to come back in,” he said.
“Luke Ronaldson, Mitch Day, Jaidyn Caruana, Deven Costigan, Sean Egan and Tom Gleeson are among them. They were decent guys out, but I still thought we had a better side in than Riddell.
“We’ll get maybe three to four back this week.”
Lobb said Egan would miss several weeks with a broken wrist.
The Burras this week face Woodend-Hesket which sits fourth. Lobb said it was always a challenge facing the Hawks up in Woodend.
In other results. Melton Centrals lost a close one to Macedon, Western Rams lost to Woodend-Hesket and Wallan beat Lancefield.
