The battle of the heavyweights didn’t disappoint, but it was Boisdale Briagolong who came out on top, 29-point winners in round 15 of the East Gippsland Football Netball League over reigning premier Wy Yung at Bullumwaal Road.
Wy Yung went into the clash against the ladder leader, who look set to be minor premiers, needing to win to secure second spot and the vital double chance. The Tigers will now need to rely on Orbost Snowy Rovers beating Lucknow in the final round if that is to be the case.
The game was played in perfect conditions. Both teams went in with some key outs, with the Bombers appearing to have the better depth at present.
The Boisdale faithful was happy to see the long awaited return of club favourite, Nicoll Sandison, who returned to the fold this season after a couple of seasons abroad playing for the London Lions. His season thus far has been cruelled by injury.
The ruck duel between Brad Daniel and Matt Wilkinson was an enticing match up and both big men were looking at getting first use to their well-credentialed midfielders.
The game started at a frantic pace and both half backlines were busy repelling forays forward, while Kel Porter and Tom Jolly were in everything for Boisdale, with Bayden Ashwood and Harry Kellow leading the Tiger charge.
Nate and Jobe Somerville were working hard to start many of the Tiger attacks, while Billy, Nicholas and Ryan Marshall were continuing their good form down back for the Bombers. Sandison was providing a spark and his long kicking set up Boisdale’s first goal.
The Tigers went up the other end, replying quickly, with the rest of the quarter tight as Wy Yung held a slender lead at the break.
The second quarter started much like the first with the game played in between the two arcs. Luke Elia was starting to get into the game for the Tigers, his leg speed troubling the Bombers, while Boisdale skipper Jim Reeves and Tim Dessent, who both finished with two goals, were starting to assert themselves on the game.
Dessent has been a revelation up forward in recent weeks, adding another goal kicking option to the Bomber mosquito fleet.
Bomber coach Sam Bedggood was putting pressure on the young Tiger defence and got himself on the scoreboard.
Tommy Stephenson, in his return game from a shoulder injury, was trying to provide the link for the Tigers, however they were sorely missing the run of Mitch Toms and game breaker Nathan Dennison.
Boisdale went into the long break with a handy nine-point lead and came out in the third quarter keen to flex a bit of muscle, with playmaker Jackson Glenane stepping up in the midfield and providing plenty of opportunities for the likes of Reeves and Dessent.
Junior Bradshaw and the antagonistic Johnson brothers, Daniel and Rhys, started to get their hands on the ball, Bradshaw finding his way forward to slot a couple of goals.
Daniel and Wilkinson were still locked in a great battle with the big Tiger starting to get the upper hand. Ashwood, Kellow, Elia and the Somervilles were working hard to keep the Tigers in it, while Norm Betts started to take his signature intercept marks to thwart the Bombers’ attacks.
Boisdale ended the quarter with a 24-point advantage, the Tigers having plenty to do if they were to get up in front of their parochial home crowd.
The last quarter saw the Tigers jump out of the blocks with early goals to Brodie Anderson and Aaron Hanuera, which had the Bombers thinking there was a comeback on the cards.
But Jolly, Glenane and Porter stepped up another notch in the middle to get the ball up forward with intent for the Bombers.
A fantastic play from the half back line led by the Marshalls and James Whelan resulted in Reeves turning Nate Somerville inside out to give the crowd something to ponder.
The Tigers were hanging in there and the tireless work of Ashwood was willing them to get over the line, as Norm Betts moved up the ground and his intercept marks were proving critical as now his kicks were penetrating inside 50.
As the game kicked into time on, an outstanding Bomber counter attack saw Rhys Johnson finish off a great play, once again from the half back line, with a crucial major.
With the game out of Wy Yung’s control, tempers began to flare and both teams were involved in scuffles as the umpires lost control of the game.
It was an ugly finish to a great game of football with Jolly sent off and reported for instigating a melee. He will be free to play this week against arch rival, Stratford.
The usual suspects were in everything for Boisdale with Jolly, Porter and Glenane taking the honours in the midfield battle, while the Marshalls were fantastic at the back.
The Bombers would be pleased to get a run under Sandison’s belt and another game into Whelan.
For the Tigers Ashwood battled hard and with the help of Daniel tried to assert their mark in the midfield. They were assisted by Kellow and Elia, as well as Norm Betts and the two Somervilles.
They will be hoping to gain back the services of Dennison, Joel Waters, Nick Ward and Toms in the coming weeks, however will likely be without Tom Betts who suffered an eye injury during the clash.
