Result stands after Heathcote appealed decision to end game, which eliminated them from finals.

A Victorian country football club which had its semi-final abandoned due to lightning when they were trailing by just two points, have heard the results of their appeal against the decision.

Heathcote were eliminated from the finals race in controversial circumstances on Sunday. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The Heathcote District league has upheld the original decision made by umpires and the league to abandon Sunday’s senior semi-final between Heathcote and Leitchville Gunbower after holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday night following an appeal by the Saints.

Wild weather in the area saw the game called in the third term with the Bombers leading at the time, 7.8.(50) to 7.6.(48).

The result eliminated the Saints from the finals, prompting them to appeal the decision to the HDFNL board on Monday night.

The Heathcote District league confirmed a meeting took place after the appeal was lodged and a final outcome has now been decided.

Leitchville Gunbower will play in the preliminary final this weekend with the two-point result standing.

“After careful consideration of all available evidence and representations from the involved parties, the board has unanimously decided to uphold the original result of the match,” a statement from the board said.

“The board determined that no grounds exist for the result to be overturned or for the game to be replayed.

“The HDFNL remains committed to ensuring fair play and integrity in all its competitions and appreciates the understanding and cooperation of all clubs involved.”

North Bendigo will take on the Bombers this Saturday with the winner to face White Hills in the grand final on September 7.

EARLIER

AFL Central Victoria is standing by a country league’s decision to abandon Sunday’s senior semi-final due to weather, which resulted in Heathcote being eliminated from the finals race.

The Saints’ season is over after the semi-final against Leitchville Gunbower was called off during the third term by umpires and Heathcote District League officials.

Lightning struck before half time and was followed by a deluge of rain and hail during the main meaning the second half was delayed.

The half time break was extended to 30 minutes to allow the conditions to pass.

Play continued in the third term until lightning and rain returned, which was when the game was called.

The Bombers led 7.8. (50) to 7.6. (48) when it was abandoned, which put them into the preliminary final this week and ended the Saints’ season.

Despite conditions improving not long after nothing could be done to restart the match.

According to the AFL Victoria Country rule book there is nothing in the rules in relation to an abandoned game restarting. Once a game is called it is finished.

But the rule book rules state when lightning suspends a game for 30 minutes, ‘blue skies and lack of rainfall are not adequate reasons to breach the 30 minute minimum return-to-activity.’

So even if the game was not called initially the game would not have started until 30 minutes after the lightning stopped the game in the third term.

It was then up to the umpires and league to either wait or call off the game, with the decision made by officials to do the latter.

Across country footy in Victoria it was the only game abandoned.

Jackson Conforti in action earlier this year for Heathcote. His side was eliminated on Sunday after wild weather in the region. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

While others were halted by rain, hail and lightning, all were able to continue and be finished.

AFL Central Victoria general manager Cameron Tomlins said the league followed the rule book and the processes and the right decision was made.

“On the day each league, in consolation with the umpires and clubs, made decisions relevant to the conditions at the venues,” he said.

“The conditions at grounds were very different ground to ground.

“The controlling body, being the leagues, responsible for those matches had to make some difficult decisions.

“The league will stand by the decision they made.”

Heathcote coach Andrew Salardino said it was gut-wrenching for the teams season to end the way it did.

“We’re all still pretty hollow about it,” he said.

“The disappointing thing was leagues around the area the same thing was happening and all those games played it out.

“It’s heartbreaking to be honest, you work so hard all year to give yourself a chance, for it to be taken away like that is disappointing.”

Salardino said five minutes after the game was called the sun was out and there were blue skies.

He added the club tried to convince the league and umpires to wait longer but it was to no avail.

“We were the only league in the whole district that called a game off,” Salardino said.

“All the other leagues continued, and they waited it out, and they were fine, the weather was good.

“Hopefully the league learns a lesson or two from this.”

The coach was now hoping to use the disappointment to spur the team on for next year.

He will be back for his fourth year as Saints coach.

“If that’s not fire in the belly for next year, I don’t know what is,” Salardino said.

“The message post game yesterday (Sunday) was we have to unite and stick together and that’s life sometimes (the decision).

“Hopefully we’re up there next year but it’s tough (right now).”

Leitchville Gunbower plays North Bendigo in the preliminary final this Saturday with the winner to play White Hills in the grand final on September 7.