Diggers Rest wins ugly over Riddell in RDFL qualifying final

IT WAS not pretty. But the end result was all that mattered for Diggers Rest in its RDFL qualifying final on Saturday.

RDFL footy: Diggers Rest versus Melton Centrals at Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve. Diggers Rest's Brent Tuckey,10 Pictures:Angie Basdekis

IT WAS not pretty.

In fact, Diggers Rest coach Shaun Sims suggested he might burn the tapes this week rather than dissect them as he normally would.

But when the final siren sounded, Diggers Rest found itself in front after a nailbiting Riddell District Football League qualifying final against Riddell on Saturday.

In the end, the scoreline of 9.12 (66) to 9.8 (62) was all that mattered.

“Someone’s got to win those games,” Sims said. “We were just lucky enough we were on the right end.”

Kicking with the breeze in the opening term, the Burras took an early lead.

They booted four goals to one in the first half-hour before­ the Bombers hit back to get within three points at the main break.

Just three goals were kicked between the two sides in a tight third term, Diggers Rest believing its 11-point lead at the final change might not be enough given Riddell was coming home with the breeze.

But the Burras held on at Greenhill Reserve, snapping the Bombers’ 10-game winning run.

“I don’t think either team played the way they would have liked to,” Sims said.

“It was just one of those real close, tough finals matches that you get. But we were lucky enough to get away with the win.

“We got beaten in clearances, beaten in inside-50s and we were kicking into the breeze going into the last quarter. So we showed some fight.”

Stephen Ruane and Andrew­ Tyquin led the way in defence for Diggers Rest, while Stuart Clarke and Craig Thompson also impressed.

The Burras are expected to be boosted by three key inclusions­ for their semi-final against reigning premier Romsey this week, Dean Smith, Brent Tuckey and Craig Harvey all set to return. “We’ve put ourselves in a pretty good position,” Sims said.

“Winning that first game is much better than going into a knockout final (this) week.”

Romsey won its elimination final over Macedon by 18 points on Sunday after just one point separated the sides four minutes into the final term. Broadford pulled off an upset in the other elimination final, taking down Rupertswood by 14 points on Saturday.