BY NATHAN DOLE
Eagles too strong for Woorinen at Lalbert
MALLEE Eagles marked a 25-point victory against Woorinen in Saturday’s 11th round of action in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray FNL season.
The in-form Eagles were on their turf at Lalbert to take on the Tigers.
A closely-fought opening term ended with Mallee in front, 19-15.
A tally of 2.4 as it kept Woorinen to just two behinds in the second gave the Eagles a three-goal buffer going into the second half.
Inspired by the play of Jai Middleton, Beau Bennett and Brady Fordham, Mallee surged to a 37-point lead going into the last after it scored 5.2 to 2.1 in the third.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Woorinen hit back to win the last, 14-2, but it was the Eagles who soared to a 69-44 victory.
Darcy Hourigan again led Mallee’s attack on four goals.
Woorinen’s leading goalkicker was Tom Langford with three.
Best for the Brent Macleod-coached Eagles included Darcy Hourigan, Matthew Despott and Harry McGregor.
Josh Stone, Henry Thompson, Jye Barry, Lachlan Warburton, Tom Langford and Blake Reid were best for the Tigers.
Cohuna Kangas turned a 16-point deficit at half-time into an 11-point win against Balranald.
It was an all-Kangaroos showdown which Balranald led 32-15 at quarter-time and 43-27 by the long break.
The Jack Geary-coached Cohuna fought back to win the third term, 21-12.
Led by Chris Anderson, Daniel Coates and Jackson Williams, Cohuna scored 3.2 in the last and held the visitors to just two behinds.
At the final siren Cohuna led 68-57.
Jude Palmer capped a great game with three goals for Cohuna.
There were no multiple goalkickers for Balranald.
Best for Cohuna included Joel Helman, Xavier Mitchell and Jarrod Findlay.
Matt Neagle, Jaxon Neagle, Harrison Soraggi, Ryan Middlebrook, Seth Connell and Jack Jones were best for the Jydon Neagle-coached Balranald.
Swan Hill broke its season duck in the clash with Koondrook Barham at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
Both teams were desperate to end a winless run.
The Michael Herlihy-coached Swans charged to a 28-3 lead by quarter-time.
In the second it was the Will Callow-coached River Raiders who fought back strongly.
A score of 4.2 to 1.3 put the KB line-up within eight points at half-time.
Swan Hill dominated the third term.
Seven goals as the visitors added a point put the result beyond doubt.
The River Raiders won the last, 24-9, but the Swans celebrated a 94-54 victory.
Ned McKeown, Luke Phelan and Toby Thoolen all kicked three goals for Swan Hill as Thomas Isma added two.
Jordan Bassett booted two goals for Koondrook Barham.
Former Melbourne and Port Adelaide midfielder Jimmy Toumpas was best afield for Swan Hill.
The Swans’ best included Nyawi Moore, Toby Thoolen, Luke Phelan, Lachlan Vrolijks and Thomas Isma.
Jack Thrum, Jack Shannon, Jordan Bassett, Peter Lewis, Will Lake and Mitch Christensen were best for the River Raiders.
The Nyah Nyah West United Demons had to dig deep to defeat a spirited Tyntynder at Nyah.
The Demons led 15-8 at quarter-time, but scores were 34-all by the main break.
An NNWU team jointly coached by Jason Murphy and Nic O’Neill scored 2.2 and held the Bulldogs to a tally of 1.1 in the third quarter.
Fans watched a terrific final quarter in which the Jack O’Rourke-coached Tyntynder turned up the heat to score four goals.
The Demons replied with 3.7 on the way to sealing a 73-69 victory.
Brandyn Grenfell kicked four goals for the Demons as Charlie Boulton and Nic O’Neill added two.
Tyntynder’s attack was led by Jayden Magro on six goals as Jason Eagle chipped in with three.
Best for Nyah Nyah West United were Ben Shadbolt, Ethan Curran, Ethan Saville, Mitchell Grinham, Joel Campbell and Joel Walsh.
Brock Storer, Roy George, Jayden Magro, Marcus Wattie, Elia Ware and Jordi Bibby played well for the Bulldogs.
Kerang won its home game at Riverside Park against Lake Boga by 103 points.
The Troy Coates-coached Blues charged to a 65-9 lead by half-time.
Kerang’s pressure and run did not ease up.
The Blues won the third, 32-13, and the last, 41-13.
Brett Kennedy kicked four goals and Sam Heavyside chipped in with three in the 138-35 victory.
Koben Ryan booted two goals for the Magpies.
Kerang’s best were Josh Nitschke, Martin Kelly, Brad Pay, Tyson Clingan, Sam Heavyside and Brett Kennedy.
Josh Wills, Nelson Ibbs, Zac Warne, Marty Parsons, David Gourdis and Xavier Sherlock worked hard for the Dean Helmers-coached Lake Boga.
Tooleybuc Manangatang had the bye.
Tyntynder – Jack O’Rourke
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Nyah Nyah West United 140 per cent, 36 points; Kerang 169, 30; Mallee Eagles 112, 30; Balranald 123, 24; Woorinen 117, 24; Tooleybuc Manangatang 110, 24; Tyntynder 101, 20; Cohuna Kangas 102, 16; Lake Boga 53, 8; Swan Hill 73, 4; Koondrook Barham 56, 0.
There will be no play on July 6 as the league takes a break for school holidays.
Highlight of round 13 on July 13 will be Woorinen at home against Nyah West United from 2.30pm.
Tooleybuc Manangatang tackles Swan Hill at Manangatang Recreation Reserve.
Koondrook Barham takes on Cohuna Kangas at Barham.
Tyntynder will play Kerang at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Balranald is home at Greenham Park to face Lake Boga.
Mallee Eagles has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
47 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
40 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
27 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
26 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
25 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
22 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
21 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
20 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
20 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
16 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
16 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
15 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
15 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
14 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
14 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
14 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
14 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
13 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
13 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
13 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
12 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
12 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
11 Lachlan Lellman, Balranald.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
10 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
10 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
10 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
10 Koben Ryan, Lake Boga.