YACKANDANDAH dodged a potentially lethal bullet when it defeated Chiltern by seven points at Yackandandah on Saturday.
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With the Roos’ season on the line, co-coach Lee Dale kicked the final goal of the match to keep his team within striking distance of the top five.
They trail fifth-placed Rutherglen by eight premiership points and percentage and must defeat Dederang-Mount Beauty, Wodonga Saints, Wahgunyah and Beechworth in the run home to be any chance.
“It was an ugly game but good to hold on,” Dale said.
“We just needed to win it.
We will have to win every game from here and hope other results go our way
- Lee Dale
“We will have to win every game from here and hope other results go our way but nobody has given up and we still think we can get there.”
Yackandandah full-back Jayden Caroll kept Murray Price to three goals while Grady Nigsch provided run from defence.
Riley Stone made a strong first-grade debut and Justin Maybury set the tone in the ruck in his first senior match since round three due to injury and suspension.
Trent Castles, who recently played his 100th match for the Roos, was held to three goals in the low-scoring match.
Chiltern rallied hard through Chris Anderson, Glenn Wood and Josh Roman.
Yackandandah hope to regain key trio Arden Greiner, Bryce Rafferty and Ethan Roberts from injury in the next fortnight.
Mitta United warmed up for their top-of-the-table clash against Thurgoona with a 47-point win over Barnawartha.
The Blues sealed the win with a brilliant eight-goal first quarter thanks to dominant displays from Craig Lieschke, Joel Parsons and Jack Gilbee.
Drew Cameron provided a focal point, kicking five majors.
Barnawartha held its own after quarter-time through the efforts of Cameron McNeill and Josh Spence.
Thurgoona overcame some inaccurate kicking to defeat Rutherglen by 59 points.
With Aydan Brown and Matt Fowler providing targets inside 50-metres, the Bulldogs were always in charge with David Price, James Currie and Mark Bush on top further afield.
Coach Damien Wilson was gallant in defeat for Rutherglen.
Tallangatta proved too strong for Beechworth, winning by 62 points.
Joel O'Connell and Andrew Dear were solid contributors for the victors, while Brayden Carey stood tall for Beechworth.
Kiewa-Sandy Creek’s Ryan Wallace booted 10 goals in the Hawks’ thumping 172-point victory over Dederang-Mt Beauty.
Wahgunyah accounted for Wodonga Saints by 72 points.