EAGLEHAWK survived a desperate last quarter challenge from Maryborough to post its fourth win of the BFNL season on Saturday at Canterbury Park.

Sparked by skipper Josh Bowe and his midfield teammates Eamon Costello, 200-gamer Josh Ketterer and Tyson Findlay, the Hawks worked the ball inside attacking 50 enough times to post a winning score.

By contrast, the Magpies frequently struggled to lock the ball in its forward arc.

Hawk spearhead Matt Gretgrix was instrumental in the home club's victory. He booted five goals and hauled in some spectacular marks, including a last quarter one-hander.

Rival key forward Cameron Rinaldi ranged up and down the field for the Magpies.

Opposed to Eaglehawk defender and former Maryborough teammate Darcy Richards, who also took a number of strong marks, Rinaldi nailed four goals.

All of them were scored in the second half. Richards held Rinaldi goalless in the opening two quarters.

It looked how far the Two Blues at quarter-time. Although only Gretgrix and Tyson Findlay posted Eaglehawk majors Tim Hill, Richards and Luke Button shut down the Maryborough attack.

In addition, Button took the mark-of-the-day on the outer half-back flank as he soared high over two, grounded players.

Then Tyson MacIlwain took over in the ruck, co-coach Joel Malone and Evan Hurse won more contested ball around the ground and Maryborough suddenly had three goals on the board.

A burst of three, unanswered Eaglehawk majors had made Maryborough's task very difficult.

But after Matt Bond had hammered home the Magpies first goal at the six minute mark of the second quarter, captain Luke Bucknall and MacIlwain added two more to reduce the half-time deficit to 22 points.

Playing just his second senior game, Eaglehawk's Justin Bateson snapped the goal-of-the-day deep into the second term. He hooked the ball home with a half-volleyed shot as the ball bounced up, shin high.

Maryborough needed a lift in the third term. The Magpies had battled in the first half for any cohesion inside their attacking 50m.

Big Michael Columbro marked within range and coolly nailed a set shot at the Simpson's Road end.

When Rinaldi snapped a beauty from the press box boundary line, suddenly it was game on.

Again Eaglehawk steadied. On-baller Brady Green drove home a snap from 50m out before Brad Stringer soared high in a pack and kicked truly to restore a five-goal margin.

Rinaldi brought the deficit back to manageable proportions when he bounced through a goal to set up an absorbing final term.

The Magpies actually outscored Eaglehawk in the final term, and for the first time were able to score back-to-back goals. A huge set shot from Rinaldi from 48 metres out hit the retaining back tin fence on the full.

Lachlan Woodward, moved into attack from full-back, held onto a two-grab mark as he was falling and calmly slotted the major.

The margin was just 14 points: 11.14 to 10.6.  Again, it was Gretgrix who was the steadying influence as he hauled in a great mark as he was tumbling to the ground.

His goal and then another to big man Matt Willox iced the game for the Two Blues.

Eaglehawk coach Luke Monaghan said it had been promising to see the brand of football played, considering the youth of his 2012 team.

"We moved the ball well, and even though we made a few mistakes we probably should have been further ahead at half-time. Full credit to Maryborough in the last quarter, but our guys were able to settle down and kick away," Monaghan added.

Matt Aston, Maryborough's non-playing co-coach said following the goals to Rinaldi and Woodward, one more in the tense last term would have been crucial.

"The ball went down a couple of times, but we just couldn't find that last goal. It would still have been a big ask, but one more goal would definitely have helped," he said.

Aston added poor disposal and not choosing the correct options often enough in the first three quarters had cost his team.

GOALS: Matt Gretgrix 5, Eamon Costello 2, Brady Green, Jarrod Findlay, Tyson Findlay, Brad Stringer, Justin Bateson, Matthew Willox. Maryborough: Cameron Rinaldi 4, Tyson MacIlwain, Matthew Bond, Michael Columbro, Lachlan Woodward, Luke Bucknall, Dylan Clarkson.

BEST -- Eaglehawk: Josh Bowe, Eamon Costello, Josh Ketterer, Matt Gretgrix, Tyson Findlay, Callum Harrington. Maryborough: Tyson MacIlwain, Joel Malone, Lachlan Woodward, Cameron Rinaldi, Cameron Skinner, Adam Hurse.

VOTES

5: Josh Bowe (Eh)

4: Tyson MacIlwain (Mrb)

3: Eamon Costello (Eh)

2: Joel Malone (Mrb)

1: Josh Ketterer (Eh)