MALLEE Eagles capped a superb second-half fightback to score a one-point win at Woorinen in Saturday’s second round in Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy.
It was a classic contest between the Eagles and Tigers at Woorinen Recreation Reserve.
The reigning premier led 46-20 at quarter-time and 60-40 by the long break.
An evenly-fought third term went the Tigers’ way, 24-21.
The Harry Allen-coached Eagles dominated the final quarter.
As the Eagles scored six goals they kept Woorinen to a tally of 2.4.
Mallee was up 101-100 when the siren sounded.
Toby Sheahan led the Eagles’ attack on three goals as Shaun Harrison, Cody Henness, Jacob O’Meara and Ethan Pinchen pitched in with two.
Woorinen’s leading goalkickers were Sam Hilton-Joyce and Tom Langford on four as Will Collicoat and Billy Evers added two.
Best for Mallee Eagles were Billy O’Meara, Marcus Wattie, Toby Sheahan, Jayden Post, Cody Henness and Jacob O’Meara.
Lachlan Gardner, Sam Hilton-Joyce, Henry Thompson, Tom Langford, Taylor Cameron and Hugh Thompson were best for the Tim Free-coached Tigers.
Ultima scored an 83-point win against Tyntynder at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
The Storm surged to a 56-31 lead by half-time and then scored five goals to one in the crucial third term.
Dustin Burns burnt the Bulldogs defence with seven goals as Kade Benfield kicked three and Andrew Dean and Mitchell Seton-Stewart added two in a 130-47 victory.
Leading goalkicker for Tyntynder was Elia Ware on three.
Zac Cattlin, Dustin Burns, Ryan Featherby, Sol Kelly, Jack Delmenico and Jake Foster were best for the Joel Donnan-coached Ultima.
Jai Hayward, Sam Bull, Sam Bates, Tate Hulland, Elia Ware and Jahmahl Jenkins-Clive were best for a Tyntynder team coached by Darcy Bibby.
Cohuna Kangas bounced back from a first-round defeat to record an 85-38 win against Kerang at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
The Kangas won every quarter as Tom Toma led the attack on four goals and Corbin Anderson and Daniel Coates added three each.
Kerang’s only multiple goalkicker was Archer Dibsdale on two.
Brady Hore, Corbin Anderson, Travis Ford, Tom Toma, Sam McGlone and Lachlan English were best for the Jack Geary-coached Cohuna.
Martin Kelly, Damian Byrne, Liam Jardine, Rylee Gitsham, Jonah McKnight and Josh Hunter played well for the Brad Pay-coached Blues.
Lake Boga dominated play on Balranald’s turf at Greenham Park.
The Dean Helmers-coached Magpies swooped on the Kangaroos to record a 164-47 victory.
Nathaniel Holmes-Brown led Lake Boga’s attack on six goals as Jayden Lonergan kicked five and Rex Hickman and Xavier Sherlock added four.
Leading goalkickers for Balranald were Ollie Fitzgerald and Jacob Zanker on two.
Lake Boga’s best were Kamen Ogilvie, Xavier Sherlock, Patrick Bryan, Braden Padmore, Rex Hickman and Ryan Fox.
Jordan Wilkins, Ryan Middlebrook, Liam Farnsworth, Jack Salau and Ollie Fitzgerald were best for the Brent Macleod-coached Kangaroos.
In other matches, Hay Lions roared to a 160-20 win at home against the Moulamein Swans.
Swan Hill was too strong for Murrabit on the Blues’ ground.
The Jason Murphy-coached Swans won 122-47 against a Murrabit team coached by Rick Ladson and Jack Shannahan.
Nyah Nyah West United beat Tooleybuc Manangatang at Tooleybuc by 40 points.
Koondrook Barham passed the 200-point mark in the Wandella Bombers’ hangar to win by 123 points.
Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Koondrook Barham 223.6 per cent, 8 points; Hay 223.3, 3; 8; Swan Hill 221, 8; Nyah Nyah West United 196, 8; Lake Boga 168, 8; Mallee Eagles 204, 4; Kerang 149, 4; Cohuna Kangas 143, 4; Tooleybuc Manangatang 135, 4; Woorinen 79, 4; Ultima 78, 4; Moulamein 70, 4; Murrabit 45, 0; Tyntynder 38, 0; Wandella 27, 0; Balranald 20, 0.
There will be no play across the Central Murray on Anzac Day.
Round three will be played on May 2 from 2.30pm.
The ladder-leading Koondrook Barham will take on Cohuna Kangas in Barham.
Lake Boga will tackle Woorinen at Lake Boga Sports Club.
Mallee Eagles and Tooleybuc Manangatang clash in Lalbert.
It’s the Swans against the Bombers as Moulamein hosts Wandella.
Nyah Nyah West United faces Tyntynder at Nyan Recreation Reserve.
Kerang meets Balranald in the battle of Blues and Kangaroos at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Swan Hill faces Hay at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Ultima and Murrabit renew their rivalry from Golden Rivers days on Storm’s ground at Ultima Recreation Reserve.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
14 Declan Watson, H.
11 Cameron Arnold, KB.
9 Zak Bozanich, K; Dustin Burns, U.
8 Andrew Dean, U.
7 Jack Headon, H; Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, LB; Jayden Lonergan, LB; Jacob O’Meara, ME.
6 Harry Bremner, KB; Adam Curry, Moula.; Corey Daniels, NNWU; Leo Ellison, Murra.; Tom Smith, SH; Tom Toma, CK.
5 Kye Attwell, KB; Josh Chatfield, TM; Rex Hickman, LB; Shaun Harrison, ME; Sam Hilton-Joyce, W; Austin Hodge, TM; Brett Kennedy, Moula.; Tom Langford, Woor.; Harry Loughnan, H; Xavier Moloney, SH.
4 Corbin Anderson, CK; Cooper Angus, SH; Tom Banuelos, H; Daniel Coates, CK; Dylan Collis, H; Lachlan English, CK; Jordan Johnston, NNWU; Josh McMahon, KB; Nathan O’Toole, KB; Ethan Pinchen, ME; Tobie Richardson, Moula.; Beau Schwarze, NNWU; John Summerhayes, NNWU; Xavier Sherlock, LB; Elia Ware, Tyn.; Ryleigh Wilkinson, KB.
3 Bryce Anderson, LB; Rory Atkins, SH; Kade Benfield, U; Charlie Boulton, NNWU; Hugh Bremner, K; Sam Copland, Murra.; Archer Dibsdale, K; Jack Headon, H; Cody Henness, ME; Darcy Hourigan, ME; Archer Lancaster, W’della; Luke McComb, TM; Jose Miliado, Woor.; Rydar Morris, TM; Jonathon Ross, NNWU; Toby Sheahan, ME; John Summerhayes, NNWU; Adam Thomson, Murra.; Laing Waddingham, W’della.