DIGGERS Rest ended Riddell’s unbeaten streak in emphatic style on Saturday, thumping the Bombers 12.7 (79) to 2.6 (18).
Riddell remains on top of the Riddell District Football League ladder, a game clear of Diggers Rest and Sunbury, but it was thoroughly outplayed in wet and heavy conditions at Diggers Rest Reserve.
PICTURE GALLERY: Diggers Rest v Riddell
Play was heavily contested early in the first term, but Diggers Rest slowly worked its way to the top, slotting the only three goals of the quarter to lead by 17 at quarter-time. As it turned out, the Burras’ 3.1 (19) was more than Riddell could manage for the entire game. The Burras kicked three goals in each term, but in the conditions they were worth far more. A 29-point half-time lead felt matchwinning – it wasn’t until late in the second term that James Nolan finally got Riddell’s first goal.
Up until that point you had to wonder whether Riddell would even get one, such was Diggers’ dominance. The Burras smashed the Bombers through the middle, a handful of players regularly streaming forward; there were eight goalkickers.
In defence, they always seemed to have players drifting back to at least halve contests if not outright win them. That Riddell was held to 18 points in a year in which it had averaged 104 was testament to the Burras’ defensive efforts.
Brent Tuckey booted three for Diggers, while the likes of Tom Evans and Craig Marshall were sensational.
Diggers coach Jamie Elliott said effort was the difference between this win and the loss to Lancefield the week before.
“That’s all I ask for, a bit of effort,” he said. “I thought we were terrific today. We set up really well and there was no big-headedness about it. It was just go out and get the job done.
“I think we can beat everyone. Hopefully, we can get in a good position to give it a crack because you’re never promised premierships.”
For Riddell coach Troy Scoble it was “as bad as we’ve played all year”.
“We were totally outplayed. They got on the front foot early and we were not able to arrest the momentum at all. Diggers were terrific,” he said. “As soon as Diggers got on top they really controlled the play.
“We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.”
