Bendigo scored only one point across the second and final quarters in its 17.11 (113) to 4.12 (36) loss at Ballarat’s Eastern Oval in what was the 5 v 6 battle in the AFL Victoria Country Championships.

The loss again sends Bendigo back into a 7 v 8 match-up next year against Gippsland, which flogged Yarra Valley Mountain District by 71 points on Saturday.

Next year will be the fourth time in seven seasons Bendigo and Gippsland have met in inter-league.

Bendigo has now been beaten three times since 2011 - once by Geelong and twice by Ballarat - in 5 v 6 games that have denied the Blue and Gold of taking the next step into the top four in the AFL Victoria Country rankings.

Bendigo led by two points at quarter-time, 2.5 to 2.3, but in what was a throwback to its loss to Ballarat at the same venue two years earlier, was hurt by missed opportunities early, with four of those five first-term behinds gettable set-shots.

The Blue and Gold was made to pay for its squandered opportunities when Ballarat unleashed a seven-goal to nil second quarter to open up a 41-point lead at half-time, 9.5 to 2.6, before the home side added a further eight goals to two after the break.

Ruckman Tom Waters was awarded the AFL Victoria Country Medal as Bendigo’s best player, but the coaching panel’s best went to swingman Matt Thornton.

Thornton played both forward and back and took 13 marks for the game, as well as kicking one of Bendigo’s four goals.

Bendigo captain Jack Geary’s game ended in the second quarter with both a concussion and possible torn bicep, while Brodie Filo (shoulder) will be a concern for Eaglehawk following the clash.

Ballarat also won the open netball 46-40 and under-18 football 18.7 (115) to 11.13 (79), with Bendigo’s only victorious team being the 17-under netballers, who won 55-29.