BY NATHAN DOLE
Koondrook Barham marks long-awaited victory
IT TOOK until the 17th round, but Koondrook Barham broke its winless in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy action on Saturday.
The River Raiders won three of four quarters in their home game at Barham to beat Tyntynder by seven points.
Koondrook Barham led 23-12 at quarter-time and 37-25 by the long break.
Tyntynder struck back to score 4.1 in third quarter as it held the KB line-up to a tally of 2.4.
Inspired by the play of Kye Attwell, Jack Shannon and Jack Thrum, Koondrook Barham scored three straight goals in the last and kept the Bulldogs to a score of 2.2.
At the final siren the River Raiders players and fans celebrated a hard-fought victory.
Kye Atwelll led Koondrook Barham’s attack on four goals and earned best afield honours.
Leading goalkickers for Tyntynder were Jayden Magro and Brock Storer on three as Justin Ellis added two.
Best for the Will Callow-coached River Raiders included James Martin, Ash Molin and Tom Amor.
Mick Dedini, Brock Storer, Isaiah Bull, Marcus Wattie, Cameron Cook and Justin Ellis were best for the Jack O’Rourke-coached Tyntynder.
Balranald moved back into the five after a 10-point win at Woorinen.
Defences were on top for a lot of this contest.
Woorinen led 26-22 at half-time, but the Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos had gained a one-point lead at a quarter to play.
Greater accuracy was a key factor as both teams had 17 scoring shots.
Balranald capped its work with a score of 7.10 (52) as the Tigers finished on 5.12 (42).
The Tigers’ Jack Atkin-Smith and Lachlan Warburton were the multiple goalkickers on two.
Best for the Jydon Neagle-coached Balranald were Jaxon Neagle, Harrison Soraggi, Ryan Middlebrook, Jordan Wilkins, Drew and Kobe Lloyd.
Jye Barry, Blake Reid, Lachlan Warburton, Henry Thompson, Daniel Mase and Lachlan Gardner were best for the Marcus Demaria-coached Tigers who slipped from the fourth rung to the sixth.
Kerang marked a 40-point win against Mallee Eagles at Lalbert.
It was third against first in a clash between two clubs who had drawn their previous showdown.
The Troy Coates-coached Kerang led 19-12 at quarter-time and had double Mallee’s score by half-time after it added 2.1 to just four behinds in the second.
Term three went the way of the Blues, 25-15.
Brett Kennedy went on to kick a match-high five goals as Sean Hunter, Jordan McNeil and Jarryd Pertzel added two in an 83-43 victory.
The Eagles’ attack was led by Darcy Hourigan, Andrew Mead-Harding and Jayden Post on two each.
Best for Kerang were Sean Hunter, Brett Kennedy, Sam Heavyside, Josh Hann, Rylee Gitsham and Archer Dibsdale.
Harrison Allen, Troy Anderson, Hamish McGregor, Jai Middleton, Harry McGregor and Billy O’Meara were best for the Brent Macleod-coached Eagles.
Tooleybuc Manangatang returned to the winners’ list as it scored a 77-64 victory against Lake Boga at Manangatang.
Goalkicking accuracy was a highlight as the Saints booted 12.5 and Lake Boga ended the match on 9.10.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints led by 23 points at half-time.
Lake Boga fought back to dominate most of the third term.
As the Magpies scored three goals they kept the Saints to a point.
The last term went Tooleybuc Manangatang’s way, 19-11, to seal a 77-64 victory.
Mitchell Grant capped a best afield performance with four goals as Connor McDonald, Jackson Morris and Josh Williams added two each.
Lake Boga’s ataack was led by David Gourdis and Koben Ryan on two.
Best for the Saints were Mitch Grant, Connor McDonald, Blake Grant, Elliot Chalmers, Gareth Grant and Rydar Morris.
David Gourdis, Josh Wills, Jayden Lonergan, Zac Warne, Nick Taylor and Nathaniel Holmes-Brown played well for the Dean Helmers-coached Magpies.
Swan Hill could not stop the Cohuna Kangas charge to a nine-goal win at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The Kangas slammed on six goals in the first quarter to hold a 23-point lead at the break.
Swan Hill hit back to win the second term, 10-9.
After scoring four goals in the third, Cohuna added seven in the last to complete a 117-62 victory.
Jacob Mitchell kicked five goals for the Kangas as Jackson Williams added three.
Other multiple goalkickers for Cohuna were Chris Anderson, Daniel Coates and Izaac Johnson with two.
Swan Hill’s attack was led by Brandon Houlihan, Jose Miliado and Ned McKeown on two.
Best for the Jack Geary-coached Kangas were Joel Helman, Chris Anderson, Jackson Williams, Jacob Mitchell, Brenton Conforti and Jack Donat.
Swan Hill coach Michael Herlihy was best along with Nyawi Moore, Ned McKeown, Sonny Beasy, Anthony Lewin and Tom Holdstock.
Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Kerang 177 per cent, 54 points; Nyah Nyah West United 144, 48; Mallee Eagles 117, 42; Cohuna Kangas 144, 36; Balranald 128, 36; Woorinen 119; Tyntynder 97, 28; Tooleybuc Manangatang 73, 28; Lake Boga 57, 12; Swan Hill 68, 8; Koondrook Barham 53, 4.
The 18th and final round in the home-and-away series will be played next Saturday from 2.30pm.
Match of the day will be at Cohuna where the Kangas tackle Nyah Nyah West United in a match between fourth and second.
Tyntynder tackles Woorinen at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill.
Balranald faces Tooleybuc Manangatang at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
Lake Boga will be on home turf at Lake Boga Sports Club against Mallee Eagles.
Kerang and Swan Hill clash at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Koondrook Barham has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
69 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
55 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
37 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
35 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
35 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
33 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
29 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
27 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
26 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
23 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
22 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
22 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
22 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
21 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
21 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
21 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
21 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
21 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
20 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
20 Brett Kennedy, Kerang.
19 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
19 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
19 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
18 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
17 Liam White, Nyah Nyah West United.
16 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Lachlan Lellman, Balranald.
16 Koben Ryan, Lake Boga.
15 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
14 Jye Barry, Woorinen.
14 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
14 Seth Connell, Balranald.
14 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
14 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
14 Xavier Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Jordan McKinnon, Koondrook Barham.
13 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
13 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
12 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
12 Shaun Harrison, Mallee Eagles.
12 Tom Langford, Woorinen.
12 Josh Stone, Woorinen.
11 Tyson Clingan, Kerang.
11 Troy Coates, Kerang.
11 Billy Driscoll, Koondrook Barham.
11 Thomas Hetherington, Kerang.
11 Brandon Houlihan, Swan Hill.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
11 Jackson Williams, Cohuna Kangas.
10 Dominic Gallo, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
10 Jarryd Pertzel, Kerang.
10 Xavier Sherlock, Lake Boga.
10 Max Thompson, Nyah Nyah West United.
10 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.
10 Marcus Wattie, Tyntynder.