Sandhurst and Kyneton couldn’t be split at the QEO as they were locked together at 96 apiece in the BFNL’s first draw since 2013 in a result that keeps the Tigers atop the ladder.

Eaglehawk won a dogged game against long-time nemesis Golden Square by eight points at Canterbury Park, 9.12 (66) to 8.10 (58).

It was just the Hawks’ second win over the Bulldogs in their past 23 meetings.

And in the other Saturday afternoon game, Gisborne proved that it will be no pushover this year in stretching Strathfieldsaye to the limit before going down 14.8 (92) to 13.9 (87) at Gardiner Reserve.

The three tight Saturday afternoon games weren’t replicated on Saturday night as South Bendigo continued its solid start to the season, while inflicting more pain on Castlemaine with an 85-point win, 19.18 (132) to 6.11 (47), under lights at Camp Reserve.

There was also a one-sided game on Sunday as Kangaroo Flat opened its account for 2017 in impressive style, crushing Maryborough 25.14 (164) to 4.7 (31).

At the QEO, Sandhurst kicked two goals in the last 72 seconds through Seb Greene and Lee Coghlan to snatch two premiership points against Kyneton.

It was an absorbing contest, particularly the last quarter when the lead changed four times, in a result that – albeit a draw – shapes as a coming-of-age day for the Tigers signalling that for the first time since the 1990s, they are finally back as a genuine force to be reckoned with.

“My confidence and belief in this group wasn’t going to be defined by today because I felt our effort and output in our first three games was very impressive,” Kyneton coach Luke Beattie said.

“We don’t want to be seen to be accepting of a draw, but when you look at losing Harrison Huntley (corkie) in the first 10 minutes of the game and then having a player sent off (Kevin Clark) in a contentious decision 10 minutes into the last quarter against a Sandhurst side that had Billy Evans, who has previously been on an AFL list, I thought it was remarkable for our boys to get that outcome.

“On the QEO against the reigning premiers, it’s a tough hill to climb and I’m proud of what the boys were able to do with their backs to the wall.”

Sandhurst – which suffered injury blows to Nick Stagg (knee) and Luke O’Sullivan (hamstring) – trailed by as many as 25 points during the second term and was still 14 points down at three quarter-time.

However, the inaccurate Dragons did have five more scoring shots than the Tigers in their tally of 13.18 (96) to Kyneton’s 14.12 (96).

But they found their radar when they needed it, with their last five scoring shots all goals – the last to Coghlan from 35m out on the press box flank that levelled the scores with 30 seconds remaining.

“Two points are better than none, but at the end of the day it leaves a flat feeling,” Sandhurst coach Wayne Primmer said.

“I was proud of the way the boys fought it out. We were a couple of goals down at the 27-minute mark of the last quarter, but the boys never threw in the towel and played with a lot of spirit.”