MELTON Centrals may have missed finals, but they ended their season on a high with a six-point win against Romsey on Saturday.
The Centrals, who have the bye this weekend, finish the season in seventh with eight wins.
PICTURE GALLERY: Melton Centrals v Romsey
Three consecutive losses to Broadford, Rockbank and Diggers Rest meant the Centrals needed a miracle heading into finals. They didn’t get their fairytale, but they were not going to go quietly, determined to finish the season in style against an injury-plagued Redbacks team.
Romsey took a three-point lead into quarter-time but the Centrals kicked five goals in the second to jump out to a 25-point half-time lead.
The Redbacks kicked 4.7 to Melton’s solitary goal in the third quarter, levelling the scores at the final break and setting up a tantalising finish.
The Centrals were overrun in several final quarters this year, most notably against Romsey in round 4 when a 15-point lead became a 31-point loss, but on Saturday they kicked two of the last three goals to secure victory.
The club song was sung with wall-shaking gusto after the game. Centrals’ victory has left open a slim possibility that Romsey could drop out of the top four, though that is unlikely given the Redbacks play Woodend-Hesket and have a healthy percentage.
In other matches, Rupertswood ensured it will play finals in its debut RDFL season with a 47-point win against Woodend-Hesket.
The Sharks kicked five goals to one in the opening term and apart from a brief period in the second quarter controlled the game. Leigh Brennan kicked four goals, his best haul since round seven.
Diggers Rest kept the heat on Riddell for top spot with a 108-point thumping of Broadford. The Burras led by 23 points at the first change and set up victory with an eight-goal-to-one second term. Brent Tuckey kicked six, taking his yearly tally to 73 and giving him a 13-goal lead on the goalkicking table with a game to play.
Rockbank had a 67-point win against Kilmore. Malcolm Lynch slotted six goals in a best-on-ground performance. The Rams, now with six wins after just three in 2012 – can finish the year off strongly against Broadford.
In the weekend’s other match, Riddell Bombers beat Lancefield by 66 points.
