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LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower has captured its first Heathcote District league premiership.
In their seventh season since joining the competition from the Central Murray league in 2010, the Bombers broke through for the premiership with a 26-point win over North Bendigo in Saturday’s grand final.
It was a case of third time’s a charm for the Bombers, who had been beaten by the Bulldogs in the grand final the previous two years.
In front of a crowd at Huntly that paid a gate of $50,000, the Bombers prevailed 15.18 (108) to 12.10 (82).
As well as their first flag in the Heathcote District league, the triumph also ended a 22-year premiership drought for the Bombers.
Before Saturday’s victory the Bombers hadn’t won a senior flag since 1995 in the now-defunct Northern Echuca league in what was the first year of the club following the merger of Leitchville and Gunbower.
Leitchville-Gunbower’s silky Tim Lincoln won the AFL Victoria Country Medal for best on ground for an oustanding game of run and skill that included kicking two goals late in the second quarter to help give the Bombers a 16-point half-time advantage.
In what was a big day for the Bombers, their under-17s also won the premiership after earlier ending the home and away season fifth.
Meanwhile, the A-grade netball between Colbinabbin and White Hills was an enthralling contest.
The Grasshoppers prevailed 43-40 to win their third flag on the trot, and second in a row at the expense of White Hills.
