BACK-to-back victories have again eluded the Rural Bank Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup.
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Chasing consecutive wins for the first time since 2014, the Pioneers suffered a 29-point defeat to the Eastern Ranges at Box Hill City Oval, going down 14.13 (97) to 11.2 (68) on Saturday.
Both teams split the first four goals of the game two apeice, but after that the Ranges were able to hold the Pioneers at bay.
“It was one of those games where we’d get ourselves back within two goals of them, but they’d answer and stretch the margin back out to five or six goals,” Pioneers coach Rick Coburn said.
“We didn’t play anywhere near as well as we have the past couple of weeks, so we’ll be looking to rectify that next weekend back on the QEO.”
Defender Austin Mertz in his third TAC Cup game was best for the Pioneers, with Mitch Kemp, Darby Henderson, Matthew Harvey (two goals), Bailey Henderson (three goals) and Tom Campbell others to also play well.
The Pioneers are now 2-5.
• Match details:
Eastern Ranges 6.1, 8.3, 12.9, 14.13 (97)
Bendigo Pioneers 2.1, 4.2, 7.2, 11.2 (68)
GOALS – Eastern Ranges: T. North 3, C. Hirst 3, J. Duncan 2, J. Lynch, J. Rouget, T. Brown, K. Urquhart, J. Jaworski, A. Kalcovski. Bendigo Pioneers: B. Henderson 3, M. Harvey 2, P. Moi Moi, L. Wallace, T. Campbell, L. Fitzgerald, R. Turner, K. Betson.
BEST – Eastern Ranges: T. North, J. Lynch, H. Nolan, K. Quirk, J. Stephenson, T. Brown. Bendigo Pioneers: A. Mertz, M. Kemp, D. Henderson, M. Harvey, B. Henderson, T. Campbell.