Eight games across the under-12, under-14, under-16, under-15 youth girls and under-18 youth girls were decided by a goal or less.

Four matches in the under-12s went down to the wire.

Despite not kicking a goal in the second half, Castlemaine under-12A edged out Maiden Gully YCW 12B by three points, 4.2 (26) to 3.5 (23).

Golden Square under-12B was held goalless in the final quarter but still defeated Quarry Hill 12A 5.7 (37) to 4.8 (32).

North Bendigo 12C rallied from a half-time deficit to defeat Maiden Gully YCW 12D 3.5 (23) to 3.2 (20).

Kyneton 12D didn’t score in the first half, but stormed home to beat Golden Square 12D 3.4 (22) to 2.4 (16).

In the under-14 grading round, Hugh Morris kicked five goals in a best on ground performance to guide Sandhurst seniors to a thrilling three-point win over Kyneton seniors.

The Dragons held on 11.10 (76) to 10.13 (73).

In other entertaining games, Eaglehawk reserves scored their first win when they defeated Kangaroo Flat reserves by 14 points.

The Borough led by five goals at the final change before the Roos made a charge in the last quarter.

At Wade Street, Golden Square reserves 2 overcame some wayward kicking to defeated Strathfieldsaye reserves 2, 7.10 (52) to 5.6 (36).

In under-16 grading, Golden Square seniors survived an arm-wrestle with Strathfieldsaye seniors.

Little separated the two sides all day before the Bulldogs won 8.6 (54) to 8.5 (53). Jack Ginnivan kicked five of Square’s eight goals.

Bad kicking is bad football and Sandhurst seniors only had themselves to blame for their defeat to Kangaroo Flat.

The Dragons led by one point at three quarter-time, but the final quarter was one to forget.

The Roos kicked 3.0 from three scoring shots, while the Dragons added 0.7. Kangaroo Flat went on to win 7.8 (50) to 4.16 (40).

In the under-18 youth girls, one point separated South Bendigo and Eaglehawk at half-time, three quarter-time and full time.

It was the Bloods who clung on 4.3 (27) to 4.2 (26), with Peta Turnbull best for the Bloods and Rilee Coulson best for the Borough.

Charlotte Noonan was dominant in Kyneton’s win over Sandhurst.

Noonan kicked five of her side’s six goals as the Tigers won 6.10 (46) to 4.8 (32).

In the under-15 youth girls, Strathfieldsaye Storm held off a barnstorming finish from South Bendigo.

The Storm looked home when they led by 21 points at the final change, but the Bloods dug deep to kick 3.2 to 0.3 in the last quarter.

It wasn’t enough to pinch the points, with the Storm winning 4.8 (32) to 4.4 (28). Caris Bilborow was best for the Storm, while Tia Davidge kicked three goals to be best for the Bloods.

Eaglehawk impressed in scoring a 26-point win over Kangaroo Flat.

Imogen O’Neill and Keely Fullerton kicked three goals each for the Hawks in the 8.5 (53) to 4.3 (27) victory.

Sandhurst is the clear favourite for the flag. The young Dragons kept Golden Square scoreless in its 87-point win.