EFL: Balwyn survives second-half fightback against Doncaster to post a 25-point win

BALWYN survived a second-half fightback from Doncaster to post it fourth win on the spin and give Rennie Gilchrist a memorable win in his 150th game.

Rennie Gilchrist chaired off after his 150th game for Balwyn on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

THERE was an array of emotions in Balwyn’s rooms after the Tigers survived a second-half fightback against Doncaster on Saturday.

Jeff Gobbels made a presentation of a six-pack of James Squire One Fifty Lashes for skipper Rennie Gilchrist’s 150th game after the 25-point victory.

But thoughts were also reserved for star midfielder Shaun Cross, whose father Mark passed away from cancer on Monday.

The Tigers wore black armbands in a sign of respect for the Cross family following Mark’s passing at the age of 61, with Shaun turning in a star performance.

Vale Mark Cross, who played league football for Footscray in 1974 at age 17. Featured in Williamstown’s 1976 premiership and coached the Towners in 1994. He also coached Melbourne’s U19s and reserves. And his son Joel has won two Magarey Medals in the SANFL. A good football man.

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) May 2, 2018

Mark played four games for Footscray in 1974, spent five seasons with Williamstown and was a member of the Seagulls’ 1976 premiership before playing in seven (coaching six) Sunraysia flags with Red Cliffs and Imperials in the 1980s.

“He is a very private sort of guy, Shaun, he keeps to himself but he turned up for training on Thursday and played today,” Balwyn coach Rodney Eade said.

“He is dealing with his grief in his own way but he was fantastic today. He is held in high regard and he played really well.”

After trailing by 31 points early in the third quarter at Schramms Reserve, the Sharks brought the margin back to just one goal by the 10-minute mark of the final term when Tom Bartholomew snapped his fourth major of the game.

It had the Doncaster faithful dreaming of a memorable come-from-behind victory after being outplayed in the first half, kicking only one goal to the main break.

But after holding tough when Doncaster had the momentum, Balwyn booted the final three goals of the game to finish with a 10.11 (71) to 6.10 (46) victory.

A milestone this weekend for Rennie Gilchrist. The Balwyn captain brings up game No.150 against Doncaster. The four-time premiership skipper has been synonymous with the Tigers' success. pic.twitter.com/I24rBTbTZ1

— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) May 3, 2018

Recruit Cameron Manuel nailed a classy shot on the run from the pocket at the 22-minute mark, shortly followed by a Charlie Haley snap from near the behind post before Luke Barker put an exclamation mark on the win with a set-shot goal on the siren.

Doncaster’s first goal of the game did not come until the 16-minute mark of the second quarter.

Leading by 19 points just before the main break, two majors from Chandler medallist Manuel in the final minute of the second quarter gave Balwyn a five-goal buffer at halftime.

Through Bartholomew, defensive pair Matt Schimmelbusch and Tyson Hartwig and Chris Annakis in his 200th game, the Sharks had pegged the margin back to a goal halfway through the last quarter.

But after seeing off the fight, Balwyn finished with a flourish to post its fourth win on the spin.

Eade said he thought the game would slip from his side’s grasp.

“I think it showed a fair bit of character the last five to 10 minutes,” he said.

“Seemed as if we were out on our feet but I thought we answered that really well because they are a good side and against quality opposition, to be able to do that, they had their tails up on their home ground, so to be able to answer that I was really pleased.”