IT was a new concept, but a familiar result for the Rural Bank Bendigo Pioneers in Sunday’s TAC Cup wildcard match.
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This is the first year the TAC Cup has held a wildcard weekend in which teams from fifth to 12th played off for the last four spots in the finals.
The Pioneers were pitted against country rival Murray Bushrangers and as they have done for the past 14 years, the Bushrangers were victorious.
In what was their 27th-consecutive win against the Pioneers, the Bushrangers won 9.18 (72) to 6.9 (45) at IKON Park.
“The Bushrangers got a bit of a break on us in the first quarter, but to the boys credit they toiled away well in the second quarter,” Pioneers coach Rick Coburn said.
“We had a bit of a lapse again in the third quarter where they were able to get another gap on us, but other than that it was a fairly even contest for most of the day.”
Jacob Atley (three goals), who was switched forward, lively midfielder Liam Marciano and Bailey Waasdorp led the best for the Pioneers, who end the season with a 2-15 record.
……………………………….
Murray Bushrangers
3.5 4.10 8.13 9.18 (72)
Bendigo Pioneers
0.1 3.4 6.5 6.9 (45)
Bendigo goals – J. Atley 3, M. Goodwin, J. Schischka, L. Marciano. Bendigo best – J. Atley, L. Marciano, B. Waasdorp, B. Henderson, J. Schischka, L. Bond.
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