BY NATHAN DOLE
STUNG by its first loss of the season, Kerang kept premiership aspirations alive in the Central Murray FNL senior footy preliminary final on Saturday.
The reigning champions in the Radio 3SH-backed competition took on Nyah Nyah West United at Tooleybuc.
After an unbeaten run was ended by Balranald in the second semi, Kerang made a hot start to the preliminary final against the NNWU Demons.
The Blues slammed on 8.4 and held the Demons to a tally of two behinds in the opening term.
By half-time the Troy Coates-coached Kerang led 74-14.
Nyah Nyah West United kept fighting on and scored 3.4 as Kerang added 4.2 in the third quarter.
With Josh and Sean Hunter and Sam Heavyside starring, Kerang kicked on to win 19.14 (128) to 5.17 (47).
The Blues’ attack was led by Bradlee Pay on six goals as Troy Coates kicked three.
Other goalkickers for Kerang were Adam Hunter, two; Michael Dalrymple, Hayden Hall, Sam Heavyside, Sean Hunter, Martin Kelly, Caleb and Josh Nitschke, and Rylee Smith.
Alex Erlandson kicked two goals for the Demons as Hassan Ahmat-Watkins, Ethan Saville and Jarrod Stokes added one.
Kerang’s best included Josh Nitschke, Ryan Gillingham and Lachlan Ross.
Dominic Gallo, Jarrod Stokes, Nicholas O’Neill, Campbell Everitt, Ethan Saville and Joel Campbell were Nyah Nyah West United’s best.
The Demons had fought their way from an elimination final where they beat Lake Boga.
A week later and NNW United put Woorinen out of the premiership race.
Lake Boga won through to the reserves grand final after a 16-point win against Woorinen.
The Magpies led 33-14 at quarter-time before the Tigers fired up to score 4.2 to 1.4 in the second term.
A three-point buffer for Lake Boga at the start of the third quarter was 11 by the end.
The Magpies finished strongly to score 3.1 to 2.2 in the last to complete a 77-61 victory.
Byron Holt kicked a match-high four goals for Lake Boga as Brody Palmer and Adam Quigley added two.
Other goalkickers for the Magpies were Gary Goodes, Tobie Richardson and Mitchell Whitfield.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Zac Cordwell, three, and Tim Free, two.
Woorinen also had Daniel Bolton, Tim Gammon, Jasn Iannucci and Andrew Lolicato add a major.
Best for the Magpies were Tobie Richardson, Kyle Brawn, Byron Holt, Nelson Ibbs, Mitchell Whitfield and Xander Hartland.
Daniel Bolton, Jack Atkin-Smith, Kyle Steicke, Adam Hendy, Jason Iannucci and Jake Schmidt were Woorinen’s best.
In the Colts competition it was Lake Boga which marked a nine-goal win against Kerang.
The Magpies led 16-1 at quarter-time and then slammed on 4.3 to 1.1 in the second.
Lake Boga won the next two terms, 21-7 and 19-14 to complete an 83-29 victory.
Kai Everett kicked four goals for the Magpies as Ryan Harvey and Gus Tonkin added two.
Other goalkickers for Lake Boga were Charlie Bryan, Bodi Clune, Koben Ryan and Nicholas Taylor.
Kerang’s attack was led by Mason Dibsdale on three as Harry Bremner added the other.
Lake Boga’s best were Nicholas Taylor, Kai Everett, Koben Ryan, Xavier Sherlock, Blaizeee Parsons and Rylan Barnes.
Cooper Meehan, Patrick Oliver, Harvey Macri, Rylan Hall, Lachlan Somerville and Zarne Thamm were best for the Blues.
First-up on preliminary final day were Tooleybuc Manangatang and Kerang in the Mildura Health Fund-sponsored under-14 ½ competition.
The Saints from Tooleybuc Manangatang dominated play on their turf.
After scoring 3.6 to nil in the first quarter, Tooleybuc Manangatang kicked five goals straight in the second.
The Saints led 54-1 at half-time and went on to record a 109-15 victory.
Goalkickers for the Saints were Jacob Zanker, six; Connor Hazlett, Zachary Lehner, Rydar Morris, Callum Muir, two; Campbell Fisher and Jedd Morris.
Flynn McKnight and Nicholas Oliver were on target for Kerang.
Tooleybuc Manangatang’s best were Rydar Morris, Campbell Fisher, Jacob Zanker, Julian Muir, Connor Hazlett and Jedd Morris.
Flynn McKnight, Hugh Bremner, Ronarrian Dowdy, Nicholas Oliver, Beau Roberts and Zachariah Edwards played well for the Kerang Blues.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve:
3SH seniors at 2.45pm: Balranald v Kerang.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Kerang v Lake Boga.
Colts at 10.25am: Woorinen v Lake Boga.
Mildura Health Fund under-14 ½ at 8.50am: Lake Boga v Tooleybuc Manangatang.