The Riddell District Football League reached its final weekend of a long, cold season in Romsey last Saturday. The Burras from Diggers Rest were out to break a 23 year Premiership drought, the Riddell’s Creek Bombers out to add to their substantial trophy cabinet.
And from there, the story flows like a Shakespearean tragedy. In the final stanza, the Burras were two goals in arrears, when utility Mick Kilty stomped back onto the ground after being sin-binned late in the third term. Just before his return, Riddell’s dominating ruckman poleaxed an opponent and was too sent off.
Big Mick emerged from the bench and in the space of a minute booted two monumental goals, giving a delirious Diggers Rest a one point lead.
And then the siren went.
But Kilty and his team, including ex-Roo Taylor Hine, couldn’t enjoy their celebrations for long. A point kicked by Riddell was absent from the scoreboard. That missing point gave Diggers a one point advantage with no time left.
As the point was at last added to the scoreboard, players and fans alike slowly came to the realistation that the first extra time period in RDFL history was about to played out.
The Big Dance had one more tango to go.
In the ten minutes of extra time, caution was thrown to the wind, bu again it was Diggers that picked up the win, kicking two goals to one. The Burras, in a Grand Final that will be remembered throughout history.
About Paddy Grindlay
- More Posts
Paddy,
Do you know if was there any sense among the spectators or either team’s bench that there was a scoreboard error, or was it only the goal umpires who knew?
Fine report up to your usual standard.