Led by seven goals from captain Tyrone Downie, Kangaroo Flat finally showed what it's capable of against the BFL's top sides, dominating South Bendigo in a 17.9 (111) to 10.12 (72) victory.

The Bloods had entered the match sitting on top of the ladder, but for the second season in a row lost to the Roos in a game where they had gone in as the warm favourites.

With the 39-point win, Kangaroo Flat moved to within four points out of the top three as it reached the midway mark with a 6-3 record. '

'We spoke about a belief in what we can do, and I really think the QEO suits our style of play,'' Kangaroo Flat coach Darryl Wilson said.

''Today, I thought we executed really well, we controlled the game, and our stoppage work was a lot better than it has been this year, which was significant.

''It was hard to pick best players, which was really pleasing.''

The Bloods were forced to play with just 17 players between the seven and 22-minute marks of the third quarter, when Brady Childs was reported and sent off for striking the Roos' Grant Ford, who had again been a key contributor for Kangaroo Flat.

The Roos kicked 2.1 to 0.3 while Childs was off.

Joel West was outstanding in the ruck all game for Kangaroo Flat as he put in a lion-heated performance.

Downie finished with seven goals, new father Shannon Geary was superb in the midfield with his quick hands and two goals, veteran Brendan Hehir continued his fine season marshalling the defence, and Justin Maddern kicked four goals and took 10 marks.

For South Bendigo - which had 16 more inside 50s than Kangaroo Flat - the lively Jackson Ireland lurked dangerously in the forward line all game, kicking four of the Bloods' 10 goals.

Kangaroo Flat ........ 4.4 9.4 13.5 17.9 (111)

South Bendigo ........ 2.3 8.5 9.8 10.12 (72)

GOALS - Kangaroo Flat: T. Downie 7, J. Maddern 4, S. Geary 2, D. Manning, T. Brooks, J. Wiegard, A. Benbow. South Bendigo: J. Ireland 4, Z. East, D. Frew 2, B. Childs, S. Fotu.

BEST - Kangaroo Flat: J. West, S. Geary, T. Downie, B. Hehir, L. Clohesy, A. Gladman, T. Kelly. South Bendigo: J. Ireland, Daniel Frew, D. Fuzzard, A. Connaughton, J. Lake, L. Rees.

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Castlemaine's eight-point win over Gisborne at Camp Reserve was one of the shock results of the season.

The Magpies had entered the match with just one win to their credit in the first eight rounds, while the Bulldogs had suffered just one loss, and defeated Castlemaine in their past 14 encounters.

But the Magpies were finally able to put together a four-quarter performance, and with superior conversion in the forward line, registered a 16.4 (100) to 12.20 (92) victory.

Castlemaine kicked the last two goals of the match, after the surging Gisborne had led by four points with four minutes remaining.

However, the game had been under threat of being abandoned late in the third quarter when Castlemaine forward Sean Smith suffered a broken leg.

With Castlemaine leading by 19 points, the game was held up for 25 minutes waiting for an ambulance before Smith was taken from the ground.

''To the credit of Jamie Elliott (Castlemaine coach) and Steven Oliver (Castlemaine player and BFL chief executive officer), they wanted to play the game out,'' Gisborne coach Ty Elliott said after the match.

''Realistically, they probably could have said, 'we're ahead, let's call if off', but for Castlemaine to play out the game and potentially lose was a sign of great sportsmanship.

''But they won on their own accord anyway, so full credit to them.''

Castlemaine coach Jamie Elliott said despite his side being in the lead when play was stopped, the Magpies were determined for the match to continue.

''We wanted to play; I didn't want to win a game like that,'' Elliott said.

''Common-sense prevailed and we had enough light to finish the game, so that's the way we went.''

The Magpies had an even spread of contributors led by the in-form Nathan Pope, midfielder Brody Culpitt (four goals) and ruckman Guy Marshall. Cordy, Daniel Christmas and speedy wingman Ben Rose each kicked three goals for the Magpies.

After starting the season with seven straight wins, Gisborne has now lost its past two games, and has its problems entering the second half of the season.

Ollie Messaoudi was a workhorse in the midfield for the Bulldogs to be Gisborne's best, while for the second week in a row, Darren Farrugia kicked five goals.

Castlemaine ........... 5.2 9.2 11.4 16.4 (100)

Gisborne ................ 3.4 4.7 6.15 12.20 (92)

GOALS - Castlemaine: B. Culpitt 4, J. Cordy, D. Christmas, B. Rose 3, S. Oliver 2, L. Brown. Gisborne: D. Farrugia 5, T. May, S. Hamilton, R. Webster, T. James, J. Duff-Tyler, M. Thornton, C. Summerfield.

BEST - Castlemaine: N. Pope, B. Culpitt, G. Marshall, B. Rose, A. Conn, C. Jardine. Gisborne: O. Messaoudi, D. Farrugia, R. Sharp, D. Favaro, S. Hamilton, M. McKenzie.

Eaglehawk used a more direct approach to goal to account for Sandhurst by 43 points.

The Hawks' running players led by Brodie Filo, Josh Bowe and Gareth Crawford continually worked the ball straight up the ground, with Filo dangerous around goals early on.

The withdrawals through injury of full-forward Balraj Singh and playmaker Justin Arnold didn't bother the Hawks as they registered a 14.19 (103) to 9.6 (60) victory.

Hawks' coach Derrick Filo was upbeat about his side's performance.

''It was a contest between two similar sorts of teams; good, young running teams, so we were very happy to come away with the win,'' he said.

''We're getting the ball inside 50 enough now, so we're giving our forwards the opportunities to kick a winning score.''

Filo said the effort of tagger Aiden Metcalf on Lee Coghlan was excellent because the Sandhurst on-baller's form had been outstanding.

Sandhurst coach Keiran Nihill was somewhat disappointed with the Dragons' effort.

''We've probably been up for a while, so I suppose collectively the players were a bit flat,'' he said.

''Plus we went back to our old ways a bit, trying to compete in that style of contested footy. ''We've got to get the ball out and move it quickly - that's our go."

Eaglehawk .............. 4.5 6.9 11.16 14.19 (103)

Sandhurst .............. 1.2 3.5 6.5 9.6 (60)

GOALS - Eaglehawk: B. Filo 4, B. Herdman 3, L. Crameri, S. Milward 2, J. Ford, L. Milroy, E. Massina. Sandhurst: M. Fitzgerald, B. Dickens, M. Stagg 2, D. Millard, L. Coghlan, M. Thornton.

BEST - Eaglehawk: B. Filo, G. Crawford, J. Bowe, A. Metcalf, R. Threlfall, J. Ford. Sandhurst: L. Coghlan, M. Thornton, K. Nihill, B. Dickens, M. Borchard, S. McGee.

Golden Square has moved to the top of the Bendigo Football League ladder, but not before surviving a gallant challenge from Kyneton.

In what loomed as a one-sided contest between a side that had lost one game taking on a side that had won one game, just eight points was the difference at the final siren, with Golden Square winning 13.13 (91) to 13.5 (83) at the Kyneton Showgrounds.

Showing the improved effort by Kyneton, in their previous seven games against Golden Square, the Bulldogs had beaten the Tigers by an average of 87 points.

While disappointed not to have secured the four points, Kyneton coach Paul Houston said he was proud of the Tigers' efforts against the side that is now carrying the mantle as flag favourites at the halfway mark of the season.

''The boys tried their backsides off today, and as I tell them most weeks, they aren't that bad, they just have to keep on trying,'' Houston said.

The Tigers' chances of upsetting the Bulldogs suffered a significant blow in the final quarter when Leigh Picioane was yellow carded and sent from the ground.

''It was in that 15-minute period that Golden Square kicked four goals; Leigh then came on and we were able to kick five quick goals,'' Houston said.

''We're disappointed we didn't get the four points, but I'm really proud of the way the boys conducted themselves, and they showed we're a side not to be taken too lightly because we are a committed unit and starting to get belief.''

The Tigers were also dealt a blow in the second quarter when forward Jack Redpath was knocked out and unable to take any further part in the game. Redpath had looked in ominous form having kicked three goals in the second term before his game ended prematurely.

''That one really hurt us, and I have no doubt at all that if Jack hadn't have been knocked out, we would have won the game,'' Houston said. ''With Jack out there we were able to be more attacking with what we could do.''

Golden Square started superbly, leading by 35 points at quarter-time, 5.6 to 0.1, but by half-time the Tigers had drawn within eight points after a seven goal-to-two second quarter.

Golden Square's best players included midfielder Nathan Bell, who played his best game for the club, Luke Rosa, Matt O'Toole (two goals), Lachlan O'Toole, Chris Malone and Brayden Dorrington. T

he gutsy Kyneton was led well by captain Dale Ciunik from halfback, Ken Cummings (four goals), Ben Thaw, who kept Golden Square captain Christian Carter to one goal, and the Picioane brothers - Leigh and Lance.

Golden Square ....... 5.6 7.8 10.10 13.13 (91)

Kyneton .................. 0.1 7.1 8.1 13.5 (83)

GOALS - Golden Square: M. Adamson 3, M. Bateman, M. O'Toole 2, B. Curnow, M. Klein-Breteler, C. Carter, N. Bell, S. Young, C. Sharp. Kyneton: K. Cummings 4, M. Cummings, J. Redpath 3, B. Franksen 2, W. Gunter.

BEST - Golden Square: N. Bell, L. Rosa, B. Dorrington, M. O'Toole, L. O'Toole, C. Malone. Kyneton: D. Ciunik, K. Cummings, Leigh Picioane, Lance Picioane, B. Fletcher, Z. Boyer.

For the first time in the club's short history, Strathfieldsaye won consecutive matches.

The Storm kept Maryborough goalless in the second quarter to set up their 15.14 (104) to 10.14 (74) victory.

A Storm attack that included the marking power of Kris Lea and Tim Wicks, and the creative skill of Craig Nicholls was in hot form in the first half.

Nicholls kicked five goals in the first half, on the way to a match tally of seven, while Lea's marking, and Wicks' competitiveness were highlights of Storm's play.

The Magpies were continually beaten at the stoppages, as Storm often found a team-mate in the clear.

Nicholls, Ryan Pedrotti and defender Andrew Thompson were best for the Storm, while Matt Bilton, Wayne Tucker and Ash Noonan battled hard for the Pies.

Strathfieldsaye ....... 5.4 9.9 12.14 15.14 (104)

Maryborough.......... 5.3 5.6 6.8 10.14 (74)

GOALS - Strathfieldsaye: C. Nicholls 7, K. Lea 3, L. Sharp, T. Wicks 2, C. Whitsed. Maryborough: D. Clarkson 3, M. Brown 2, S. Fisher, M. Bilton, C. Rinaldi, W. Tucker, J. Bond.

BEST - Strathfieldsaye: C. Nicholls, R. Pedrotti, A. Thompson, K. Lea, L. Sharp, J. Marr. Maryborough: M. Bilton, W. Tucker, A. Noonan, L. Belcher, T. MacIlwain, M. Dell.

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