LEITCHVILLE/GUNBOWER inflicted Huntly’s first loss of the Heathcote District Football Netball League season on Saturday, with a dominant first quarter setting up a 34-point win.
In a cracking first term the Bombers were both physical and skilful on their home turf at Leitchville.
Tim Lincoln and Sam Kennedy scored and assisted each other in providing the opening goals for the home team, while the defence had to adjust quickly to the umpiring which delivered free kicks for the visitors resulting in three goals.
Adjust though they did with old hands Ryan Prendergast and Keiran Treacy relishing the challenge and with support coming from a rejuvenated Hoby Bussey, began to lockdown the Huntly forwards.
Cam Ross again dominated the early stoppages and delivered some devastatingly accurate taps that allowed Bart Walsh to explode through many packs to send the Bombers forward.
Crucially the work of Ross and Lee Pollock denied Hawks star Ryan Semmel direct access to the ball, though the brilliant midfielder was always a constant threat around the ground.
It didn’t all roll the Bombers way though with game ending injuries to Tom German and Jason Del Santo early in the quarter providing concern and adjustment from coach Matt Hawken.
Undaunted, the Bombers kicked five goals in a row with the elusive Adam Deciccio taking his game to a new level, roaming across the forward line, tackling, harassing and unbelievably throwing his weight around.
Ross capped of his terrific first term with a mark and goal as he found himself resting in the forward line rather than the bench as the Bombers went to the first break with a well deserved 24-point lead.
The start of the second quarter was the opposite to the opening term, with both teams unable to score for the opening six minutes.
Steve Pretty and Daniel Meroli provided plenty of stability for the Bombers, whose injury plight went from bad to worse with Joel Helman and Will Brereton having their games terminated prematurely.
Deciccio set up Walsh with a great handball that broke the deadlock and then kicked a goal that gave the Bombers a six-goal buffer.
Harry Whittle’s two goals for the term dragged the Hawks back into the contest, with his pace and skill causing problems for the home side.
Ross and McEwen got the Bombers back on track before Chris Gleeson pulled one back for the Hawks close to the siren to keep the margin to a reachable 31 points at the main break.
With no bench and the game being played at such a frenetic pace, Bomber supporters could have been forgiven for being nervous that the ladder leaders may overrun the home side in the warm conditions.
Walsh again started the Bombers scoring for the term. Huntly hit back with consecutive goals and the arm-wrestle that was the game hit another level of intensity.
Semmel was everywhere trying to lift his side but with Huntly’s own casualty list growing, the Bombers were able to hold sway.
Pollock continued to impress with timely marks around the ground while Bussey enjoyed his best game for the season, providing some trademark dashes from defence in a largely error free performance.
Late goals to the Bombers biggest and smallest players, Ross and Deciccio gave the Bombers the quarter in a what was from a tackling perspective one of the most torrid quarters for some time.
Thirty-four points up at three-quarter time, Bombers supporters wondered if their side could hold out without any rotations available.
They needn’t have worried. Huntly’s interchange was reduced to zero availability early into the last term and with players from both sides tiring noticeably, tempers flared as the visitors began to realise the end of their unbeaten run was nigh.
