Bonnie Doon squash Grasshoppers during Round 13 battle

NOT even a torrential downpour from the heavens could stop Bonnie Doon’s undefeated run this year, with the reigning premiers surviving a scare from Moyhu to claim their eleventh win of the season. Bonnie Doon Recreational reserve’s slick and muddy grass caused carnage in the first quarter, with both teams struggling with footing and tackles. Moyhu recovered swiftly and used the weather to their advantage, surprising the opponents with some brilliant plays and quick-fire goals. The Grasshoppers seemingly learned from their earlier encounter with the Bombers this season, where they lost by a staggering 154 points. Moyhu led by seven points at the end of the quarter, a first for the Bombers, who usually take charge of the first half. With the wind beneath their wings, the Grasshoppers continued to hit the scoreboard hard and led by nine points at halftime. The Bombers came alive in the second, showcasing their ironclad defense and formidable prowess with star-player Matthew Hedin booting two goals. Meanwhile, Moyhu’s confident demeanor began to falter, with multiple inaccuracies and failed conversion attempts. Their dip in strength propelled the Bombers forward, and by third-quarter time the hometown heroes led for the first time all game. The Bombers’ dominance continued in the fourth, with sensational pressure in the forward and heavy tackles in the defence. When the final siren echoed around the park, The Bombers had rendered their opponents scoreless, winning 10.9 (69) to 5.8 (38). Best on field for the Bombers went to Matthew Hedin, Beau Smith, Peter Cairns, Jordan Davey, Guy Murray and Cody Turner. Stand-outs for Moyhu were Bailey Zimmermann, Nick Stewart, Matthew Thrum, George Hearn, Thomas Clough and Harry Verdon. Despite their victory, this was the Bombers’ third-lowest total for the year. Bonnie Doon coach Campell Smedley said his players took “a little while” to adjust to the wet weather. “Saturday was our first wet week of the whole season, so I think it all took us a bit to manage and get on top of the conditions,” he explained. “The ground is muddy, the footy is heavy and it’s hard to link up and be skillful.” Campbell said changes at half-time helped the team reassess and come together more efficiently. “Obviously we had a much stronger second half, but it’s a good reminder for us to stay on top of everything,” he said. The Bonnie Doon reserves enjoyed similar success on Saturday, beating Moyhu by 27 points. The Bombers will face Milawa this weekend at home again. -