THREE weeks between games did little to dull Leitchville/Gunbower’s quest to break into the Heathcote District Football Netball League’s top three with a 130-point thumping of a lacklustre Heathcote at a cold Pigeon Park on Saturday.
Any fears that the layoff would mean the Bombers may forget the sparking style on display in their last outing against Huntly were quickly dispelled as the visitors notched their first goal within one minute of the opening bounce.
Led by dominant ruckman Cam Ross, the Bomber midfield clicked into gear with Bart Walsh crashing through packs, Tom German distributing the ball and Jackson McEwen sure handed as he has been all season, pushing the ball forward with regularity.
Up forward Sam Kennedy, Adam Deciccio and Daniel Coates provided plenty of targets as well as tackling pressure when the ball was in dispute and by quarter time the Bombers had opened up a 21-point lead that would have been much greater except for a burst of inaccuracy mid-term that saw the visitors rack up six consecutive behinds.
Ross broke the run of misses with the first of his four goals for the afternoon, going forward when relieved in the ruck by Lee Pollock and taking a good mark.
Tim Lincoln continued his good form with a clinical display on the wing, especially during the second term that saw the visitors rack up nine goals that again should have been more.
Matt Perri’s personal battle with the goalkicking yips continued, with the dynamic forward adding three goals for the term as well as more behinds than he would have liked.
German chipped in with a couple of attractive goals and Ross underlined his importance to the Bombers’ structure with another mark and goal.
Down back, Steve Pretty and Ryan Prendergast headed up an attacking defence containing debutant Brady Hore, who fitted into the backline seamlessly and looked unperturbed by the step up to senior footy.
By half-time the die had been well and truly cast in another lopsided HDFNL fixture that have become commonplace already this season.
The third term saw Perri peppering away at the goals and the Saints seemingly intent on gifting him the ball wherever possible.
By three-quarter time Perri would increase his season tally to a credible 24 with three for the term and six for the day.
Heathcote’s resistance waned as the visitors went about their business with only the curiously short terms and inaccuracy from set shots the only limiting factor to the Bombers’ scoring.
For all of the Bombers’ dominance, players did tend to fade in and out of the game – possibly now a strength – for as one player drops off someone else takes up the slack.
Lincoln replaced Perri as the chief goal kicker for the last term with three majors, taking his tally to five, and Brendan Meroli popped through a couple of goals while Ross rounded of his excellent day with another mark and goal to give him four for the afternoon.
With 10 goals kicked for the last term, the final siren at the 23-minute mark startled many. More likely the combination of the short ground, efficient umpires, goal netting and oak trees contributed to the sudden halt to the afternoon proceedings.
Leitchville/Gunbower hosts Elmore this weekend before a tough fortnight of games against North Bendigo and Colbinabbin.
