With the Towners entering the clash off the bye and desperate to add to their only win of the year, and the Tigers eager to keep in touch with those vying for finals positions, both sides had something on the line when they met at Violet Town Recreation Reserve.
It showed, too, with spectators treated to an epic game full of ebbs and flows which was eventually decided by two points and, much to the dismay of the home supporters, it was the Tigers that got the job done, clinching a thrilling 12.9 (81) to 11.13 (79) victory.
For much of the first half, though, it was the Towners who looked the team to beat, the home side enjoying a fast start in the opening term to pepper the goals, recording six scoring shots to one.
But while they held Rushworth to a single behind for the first term, they were unable to fully capitalise themselves, kicking 2.4 (16) from their numerous chances, although they still did enough to take a handy 15-point advantage into the first break.
Whatever was said at the quarter-time huddle seemed to ignite the Tigers, too, as they followed up a poor opening term with a haul of 4.4 in the second, but the Towners looked up to the task as they matched the visitors to maintain the 15-point lead as they entered the rooms, ahead 44 to 29, but it still felt as though the contest had another level of intensity to go to.
That it did in the third term, as Rushworth began to eat away at the Towners’ margin, and continued to find increasing opportunities to score as the contest wore on.
The return of one behind in the first term seemed light years ago by three-quarter time as the Tigers slammed through 5.2 in the third quarter, while at the other end the Towners continued to squander their chances, kicking 2.4, as Rushworth assumed the lead at a break for the first time, listening to the final address from coach Mark Wheatley with a slender 9.7 (61) to 8.12 (60) advantage.
The final term was a tense affair and, while the Towners had given up the lead, they weren’t about to give up the fight, ensuring the contest went down to the last second.
A much more accurate return of 3.1 in the final term saw the Towners push Rushworth all the way, but it wasn’t enough to see the home side over the line, as the Tigers hung on to prevail by two points in an absolute epic.
Ryan Prout was named the Tigers’ best in the win, closely followed by Nicolas Collins, while Nico McKinley (three goals), Liam Adlington (two) and Ryan Beale (two) were the multiple goal-kickers.
Former AFL Bulldog and Blue Will Hayes led the charge for the Towners, booting a goal in the process, while Ashly Hobbs kicked a game-high four goals.
The victory improves Rushworth’s record to 4-6 for the season to remain in eighth spot on the ladder, keeping its hopes of securing a finals position alive, now two games outside the top six.
Elsewhere, it was a fairly routine round as each of the favoured teams recorded fairly comprehensive victories in their respective clashes.
Nagambie bounced back from its first loss of the season to record the biggest win of the weekend over Tallygaroopna, recording a 29.20 (194) to 1.2 (8) victory at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve.
Avenel too found itself back on the winners’ list with a mammoth 26.16 (172) to 5.3 (33) victory over Merrigum at Avenel Recreation Reserve, the Swans bringing up the ton on the scoreboard prior to half-time.
Lancaster remains unbeaten after securing a solid win over Stanhope, although the Wombats were made to work for it early, eventually turning a nine-point quarter-time deficit into an 83-point win, the final score 20.20 (140) to 9.3 (57).
Reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba continued its strong run of form with an 18.14 (122) to 9.5 (59) victory over Girgarre, while Shepparton East comfortably accounted for Undera in a 15.13 (103) to 8.4 (52) victory.
