DIGGERS Rest came away with a crucial 20-point win over injury-riddled Romsey in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
The win ensured Diggers Rest (11-1) held onto its spot in the top two, with the top four to be hotly contested with finals on the horizon. Romsey (9-2) slipped to fourth.
The first 10 minutes of the final term were intense. Romsey, having trailed all day, hit the front with two behinds, but despite a majority of possession it couldn’t kick a major.
Diggers Rest’s Tom Gleeson got the first goal to give the Burras back the lead, but the Redbacks levelled the scores minutes later.
The man to break the deadlock was Brent Tuckey. He was Diggers Rest’s main target, finishing with six goals and received a free kick inside 50 midway through the term to give the Burras the lead again.
Two more goals put the result beyond doubt.
The Redbacks lost Chris Petroro in the dying minutes. He was stretchered off with a knee injury, though the club is confident it won’t require a reconstruction.
Jackson Mills and Steve Burlak suffered hamstring injuries and won’t play this weekend. Blake Henderson (groin) will also miss.
Diggers Rest coach Jamie Elliot said his side was “10 to 15 per cent off” and “we nearly paid the price”.
“It’s always good to have a win against Romsey, but I was pretty disappointed with a few areas. They didn’t follow instructions well at all.
“When I put it on the players at three-quarter time I just think they responded, which was good.”
At the weekend, Romsey had 29 players injured. Coach Mark Pedersen said he was proud of the effort given the crowded injury room.
“They had a never-say-die attitude and kept putting their head over the ball, which was pretty gratifying.
“We were in an opportunity to win and we didn’t, so that was disappointing. But it was a good effort against the odds.”
Around the grounds, Barry Hall’s absence didn’t hinder Broadford as the Roos rolled Melton Centrals by 18 points in a result that leaves the top-six race wide open.
Centrals (6-6) is fifth by a game from Rupertwood (5-6), while Macedon and Lancefield are out of the top six on percentage. Rockbank and Broadford are a game further back (4-7).
Rockbank moved a game closer to sixth spot and a finals berth with an 11-point win against Macedon.
Anthony Long was the Rams’ best with three goals, while Jake Armistead, Harley Cameron and Matthew Krul were other stand-outs in the 9.8 (62) to 8.3 (51) win.
Elsewhere, Lancefield beat Wallan by 42 points and Rupertswood downed Woodend Hesket by 57.
In Sunday’s blockbuster, a 10-goal second quarter put Riddell on course for a 29-point win against Sunbury Kangaroos.
