Kerang wins battle with Cohuna to claim Central Murray senior premiership
KERANG kicked clear in the final quarter of a hard-fought contest with Cohuna Kangas to be the Central Murray Football Netball League’s senior football premiers for the 2022 season.
The Blues and Kangas fought for the cup at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
After being beaten by Cohuna in the second semi, Kerang was determined to make a strong start and did so.
The Blues 21-nil at quarter-time.
In the second it was the Kangas who bounced back to score 2.4 to 0.3 as Kerang held an eight-point lead by half-time.
Cohuna cut the deficit to just three points going into the final term after it won the third quarter, 14-9.
Led by the play of captain Josh Nitschke, Ryan Gillingham and Martin Kelly it was Kerang which responded to the Kangas’ challenge in the final term.
The Blues scored 2.2 to 1.1 to mark a 47-37 victory.
The classy Troy Coates led Kerang’s attack on two goals as Bronson Booth, Bryce Curnow, Sean Hunter and Rylee Smith chipped in with singles.
Dylan Johnstone kicked a match-high three goals for Cohuna as Jarrod Findlay added two.
Best for Kerang were Josh Nitschke, Ryan Gillingham, Martin Kelly, Sean Hunter, Nick Stagg and Sam Heavyside.
Cohuna’s best were Jake Hammond, Joel Helman, Thomas Toma, Joshua Bird, Oscar Cooke and Jack Donat.
It was Kerang’s first senior premiership since 2017.
An incredible run by the Blues included 10 consecutive grand final appearances between 2008 and 2017.
The Blues had a win-loss record of 7-3 in that streak.
Three years ago, Troy Coates was playing coach of the Strathfieldsaye Storm team which won the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior grand final against Eaglehawk.
Blues’ team-mates on Saturday – Bryce Curnow and Sam Heavyside – had also played in the ’19 premiership for Storm.
Another gun recruit for Kerang this season was Nick Stagg from Sandhurst.
The Cohuna Kangas line-up included former Golden Square player Thomas Toma as captain; Jarrod and Tyson Findlay, Joel Helman and Tom Metherell who had been premiership winning team-mates with North Bendigo in the Heathcote DFNL.
Other key players for the Kangas included Brenton Conforti, Jake Hammond, Riley Hird and Sam McGlone.
It was a thrilling finish to the CMFNL reserves footy grand final between Kerang and Woorinen on Saturday.
The Blues made a great start to lead 15-6 at quarter-time before the Tigers clawed their way to an eight-point lead by half-time after they added 2.6 to a point in the second term.
A closely-fought third quarter was won by Kerang, 16-15.
Only goal in the last was by the Blues, but Woorinen’s tally of two points as Kerang scored 1.1 was enough to clinch a 41-39 victory.
Goalkickers for Woorinen were Jason Iannucci, Thomas Isma, Joseph Kelly, Jordy McInnes and Elijah Miliado.
Jonah McKnight led Kerang’s attack on two goals as Kyle Franzini, Alex Lloyd and Ethan McKnight added singles.
Best for the Tigers were Tim Gammon, Elijah Miliado, Jordy McInnes, Austin McKerrow, Tahj Bolton and Thomas Imsa.
Jotham Higgs, Cody Tuohey, Laine Harry, Samuel Nitschke, Harrison Saunders and Kel Adams played well for Kerang.
A tally of six goals as it kept the opposition to just one in the first half played a big part in Lake Boga’s victory in the under-17 ½ clash with Kerang.
The Magpies led 3.1 to 1.3 at quarter-time and then added 3.1 to a point in the second term.
Kerang worked hard to make it a more event contest after half-time as it scored 21 points to 34.
At the final siren Lake Boga led 72-31.
Koben Ryan led the Magpies’ attack on three goals as Dustin Burns, Ruan Drotsky and Xavier Sherlock added two majors, and Bodi Clune and Hunter Hartland chipped in with singles.
Goalkickers for the Blues were Brodie Meehan on two, Mason Disdale and Bohden McKnight.
Lake Boga’s best were Harry Bull, Dustin Burns, Codie Anderson, Nicholas Taylor, Ryan Harvey and Koben Ryan.
Lachlan Somerville, Nicholas Murray, Bohden McKnight, Cody Makeham, Zarne Thamm and Brodie Meehan played well for Kerang.
Grand final day kicked off with the Mildura Health Fund-backed under-14 ½ match between Swan Hill and Lake Boga.
Both teams were on target in the first quarter as Lake Boga scored 3.0 and Swan Hill added 2.0.
After the first break it was the Swans who dominated play.
An attack led by Steven Polglase-Hincksman, seven goals; Sonny Beasy and Bodhi Kelly, two each, scored 12.8 to nil across the last three quarters to mark a 92-18 victory.
Other goalkickers for the Swans were Seamus Doherty and Lachlan Vrolijks.
Lake Boga’s attack was led by Jarra Kelly on two goals, and Rory Davies.
Best for the Swans were Lachlan Vrolijks, Bodhi Kelly, Koby McMillan, Steven Polglase-Hincksman, Sacha Retsas and Sonny Beasy.
Max O’Reilly, Bryce Anderson, Kye Fleming, Willem Pye, Patrick Dear and Maximus Caruso worked hard for the Magpies.
Written by Nathan Dole.