South Bendigo have been made to work hard to overcome a gallant Kyneton to win by 26 points in their round 14 BFL clash at the Kyneton Showgrounds. Had the Tigers kicked straight the result may well have been different. In a low scoring and scrappy affair, Kyneton began well, registering seven scoring shots to the Bloods one to lead by eleven points at the first break.

Fresh off their win the previous round against Maryborough - just their second for the year - Kyneton were showing signs of a possible upset and South Bendigo needed to lift. The Bloods did just that and with the aid of the breeze kicked three goals to Kyneton's meagre two behinds in the second term to take an eight point lead into the sheds at half-time.

Kyneton's Zac Boyer is caught with the sherrin in the middle of the ground during their clash with South Bendigo in round 14 of the Bendigo League.

In the third term South Bendigo began to open up a break on the Tigers and the upset had faded. Rhys Ellis, who was the major offender towards the Tigers in-accurate kicking, kicked his third goal for the game to go with his six behinds. The Tigers were stretched for options up forward however.The Bloods only added three majors themselves for the quarter but the margin of 15 points at the final change didn't portray the control South had around the ground.

The Bloods Brook Martyn and Michael Tonkin were finding plenty of the ball, the later capping off his day with three goals. Lanky Rory Alexander was a difficult match-up for the Tigers and small man Aaron Connaughton was busy around the packs. In the final stanza Kyneton again failed to score goals into the wind but managed to stem the flow of the Bloods supply at the other end to keep the final margin within five goals.

South Bendigo's Rory Alexander leaps high but no-where near the ball against Kyneton.

As the smell of sizzling onions and tomato sauce drifted high above the grandstand; the clouds darkened and the Bloods belted out their club song from behind the stand. Car engines began in unison around the boundary-line and reserves players made their way to the bar.

South Bendigo will need to improve on their performance if they are to match the likes of Gisborne and Golden Square  come finals time. For the Tigers, well it's been another long year for the lads in yellow'and'black. But they'll be back, and so will i, for some more of those well cooked hamburgers and onion from the front of the grandstand at Kyneton.