HDFL | Cats, Hoppers pick up wins

The Bombers entered the match flying high after their first win since 2019 in round two, and they took the contest to the Cats early on.

Their pressure paid dividends in the first term and they trailed by just 16 points at quarter-time.

But LBU flexed its muscles after the break, booting 16 goals to two the rest of the way.

LBU coach Brodie Collins said it was a good performance from his side.

“It was a good win,” Collins said.

“They had a fair crack early on and eventually we got on top of them.

“They are a young side and they had a red-hot go. We knew they were going to come out pretty strong, we just had to meet them and give it our best.

“We played the footy we wanted to play once we got a hold of the ball. It was a good win in the end.”

Ben Fulford was on fire down forward for LBU, booting seven goals, with Tyler Phillips kicking three and Marcus Angove and Coby Cox each kicking two.

Bomber Austin Windridge was his side’s leading goalscorer with two.

Harley Cobb, Lachlan Atherton and Nathan Bacon all returned from injury for LBU on the weekend, bolstering an already strong Cats line-up.

Just as crucially for the Cats, who have been beset with injuries to start the season, they emerged from Saturday’s game with a clean bill of health.

“I think we got through unscathed for the first time, which was good, really pleasing,” Collins said.

Collins said Fulford, Jeremy Mundie, Angove and Cox were four of the best players for his side on the day.

Leitchville-Gunbower coach Tim Brannan said he was impressed with the way his side started the game.

“It was a great start, our first quarter was really good,” Brannan said.

“We had pressure around the footy and we put enough pressure on that they made mistakes.”

Brannan said there were positive elements to take away from the game.

“The biggest positive for me was we didn’t give up,” he said.

“We knew we were down and out with some injuries, but the boys who were there just kept pushing on and stuck to their structures.

“Our first quarter was fantastic but then we dropped off after that, which was a bit disappointing, but at the end of the day there is still lots of positives. I think the boys’ resilience was brilliant.”

Brannan said Jobe Warde, Matt Mclellan and Mitchell Candy were three players that impressed for his side.

• Meanwhile in Elmore, a seven-goal blitz for Colbinabbin led the Hoppers to a come-from-behind win over the Bloods.

The Hoppers trailed by four points heading into the final term, but a dominant fourth quarter blitz saw them run out 30-point winners.

Colbinabbin kicked seven goals to Elmore’s two in the last term to claim a 14.15 (99) to 10.9 (69) victory.

Colbo’s dominant last quarter cancelled out the Bloods’ strong start to the game.

Elmore shot out of the blocks in the first quarter, with the Bloods’ pressure and willingness to be first to the ball helping them get out to a two-goal lead by half time.

But the Hoppers trimmed the deficit to four points at three-quarter time before their strong fourth quarter powered them to the win.

The victory was Colbinabbin’s third win of the new season, with the undefeated Hoppers sitting third on the ladder.

Elmore, meanwhile, is yet to taste victory in any of its three games so far this season, with the winless Bloods currently at the foot of the ladder.

Stephen Tuohey kicked three goals for the Hoppers, with Jed Brain, Jimmy McMurtrie and Luke Moore each kicking two.

Tannar Cerrone and Sam McHale had two goals each for Elmore.

Todd Clarke, Luke Moore, Hadleigh Sirett, Benjamin Barton and Brain were among the best for Colbo on the day, while youngster Jude Ryan made his senior debut for the club.

Mitchell Carson, Tannar Cerrone, Zack Holmberg, Matthew Nettlefold and Liam Gundry were among the best for Elmore.

The Bloods will have a week off to recoup thanks to a bye in round four, while Colbinabbin will be hoping to keep its winning streak rolling when it takes on White Hills at home this Saturday afternoon.