The Bombers failed to boot a goal in the second half, but managed to stave off a gallant Lakies by three points at home.

Learmonth will look back at a costly second term as a reason behind the defeat, with the Bombers booting five of the last six goals to overturn a Lakies' lead and take a 21-point advantage into half time.

Through the efforts of onballers Dyson George (three goals) and Brenton Powell (one goal), the visitors came hard in the second half, but heavy rain meant the margin proved too much to haul in.

Sam Turner had another big day for the red and black, controlling the midfield and finishing with one goal, while Jarrod Rodgers was dangerous up forward with three majors.

Elsewhere, Gordon stunned Springbank with a 49-point victory on home soil.

The Eagles made it three wins on the trot and jumped to sixth spot on the ladder with a commanding triumph that has signalled them as a team to watch in the second half of the campaign.

Bungaree remains on top of the ladder after a 23-point win over Ballan, Skipton broke through for an important victory against Beaufort, as did Newlyn over Clunes.

Other round eight results were: Hepburn 20.13 (133) d Carngham-Linton 12.11 (83), Daylesford 8.8 (56) d Dunnstown 4.6 (30), Creswick 11.9 (75) d Rokewood-Corindhap 9.3 (57) and Waubra 37.26 (248) d Smythesdale 0.1 (1).

LADDER

BUNGAREE 32 POINTS, 239.47%

LEARMONTH 28, 218.34

WAUBRA 28, 201.93

BUNINYONG 28, 164.04

HEPBURN 24, 166.30

GORDON 24, 134.48

SPRINGBANK 20, 186.82

DAYLESFORD 20, 129.79

Carngham-Linton 16, 111.56

Ballan 12, 157.79

Creswick 12, 92.06

Skipton 12, 82.80

Clunes 8, 69.89

Beaufort 8, 66.15

Newlyn 8, 58.71

Rokewood-Corindhap 4, 80.62

Dunnstown 4, 60.20

Smythesdale 0, 2.49