Kicking to the city end of the QEO the Dragons rammed home the opening half-dozen majors in the 'premiership quarter' to snatch a 33-point lead by the last change.

Considering just six points separated the teams at the long break Hurst's goalkickers, led by Jake McLean (2), Joel Wharton (2) and Blair Holmes really had to fire up their team-mates.

The Tigers, with speedy Max O'Sullivan breaking the lines, outscored the Dragons four goals to three in the last term before Sandhurst clinched the four premiership points: 14.11 (95) to 10.7 (67).

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The opening half was the most even and spirited patch of the afternoon's play. Ten points down at the first change the Tigers closed within five points 18 minutes into the second term.

With Patrick McCarthy in great touch at full-forward, fed by Rhys Magin and Hamish Govan with Darcy Harris on top in the ruck, Kyneton really looked like legitimate challengers.

Nick Stagg's great snap from close range - his second of four majors - gave the Dragons what seemed to be some breathing space.

But McCarthy's fine set shot goal from the press box pocket, his third for the match, again reduced the gap to a single kick with two quarters to play.

The Dragons held a 5.4 to 4.4 lead as the half-time siren sounded.

Then Sandhurst turned the match on its head. Defenders Liam Ireland and Isaac Ruff shut down Kyneton's tentative forward forays while their midfielders were unstoppable.

Zac Pallpratt started the goal-scoring surge early in the term.

It was all Hurst as McLean speared home two set shots, Wharton was on-line with a running snap while Holmes' 45-metre kick just sneaked over the outstretched hands of the Tiger defenders.

Only Shaun Huy and Jonas Parsons were able to respond for Kyneton and both those majors were landed in red time.

And even though the deficit had ballooned out to 33 points the Tigers didn't surrender.

After Hurst's centre half-back Liam Ireland had hauled in the mark-of-the-day in the city end goalmouth, the Tiger running players took control of the middle section of the last quarter.

O'Sullivan's two goals were classics. He took two bounces down the scoreboard flank to land his first as he ran towards an open goalmouth.

And then the Tiger on-baller screwed home an around-the-corner snap from deep in the scoreboard pocket.

Still the Dragons were able to respond. Stagg landed his fourth major while Matt Thornton hauled in a great mark a few metres out from the Barnard Street end goalmouth to pop through Hurst's 14th and final major.

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