BY NATHAN DOLE
COHUNA Kangas withstood the heat in the Demons’ den at Nyah to win Saturday’s eighth round match in the Central Murray FNL senior footy season.
The Kangas dominated the opening three quarters of the clash in the 3SH-backed competition to lead 68-32 going into the last.
Nyah Nyah West United lifted its pressure and run in the final term to score 4.6 as it held the Kangas to a tally of 1.1.
At the final siren, Cohuna led 75-62.
The Kangas’ attack was led by Rhys Free on four goals as Dylan Johnstone added three and Jarrod Findlay chipped in with two.
Multiple goalkickers for the Demons were Hassan Ahmat-Watkins, Ethan Saville and Joel Walsh on two.
Best for the Tyson Findlay-coached Kangas were Dylan Johnstone, Daniel Paterson, Joel Helman, Tynan Dove, Nathan Hammond and Daniel Coates.
Joel Campbell, Riley Daniels, Jarrod Stokes, Kayne Davidson, Joel Walsh and Zach Threadgold played well for NNWU.
A brilliant opening term set up Balranald’s away win against Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Kangaroos led 38-2 by quarter-time of the match at Tooleybuc.
In the second it was the Saints who struck back to score 4.3 to just three behinds.
The margin was 13 points at a quarter to play.
Balranald added 2.3 to 1.5 in the last to clinch a 65-48 victory.
Seth Connell and Jydon Neagle led the Roos’ attack on three goals each.
Josh Williams kicked a match-high four goals for the Saints.
Balranald’s best were Ryan Middlebrook, Harrison Soraggi, Ethan Gant, Seth Connell, Rory Fitzgerald and Drew Lloyd.
Connor McDonald, John Wardle, Jaicob Kenny, Johnathan Marsden, Blake Grant and Ethan Goldfinch played well for the Saints.
Mallee Eagles soared to a 45-point win against Tyntynder at Lalbert.
The Eagles led 22-20 at half-time and then slammed on 5.3 to a goal in the crucial third quarter.
Led by the play of Shaun Harrison, Braidon Bennett and Zac O’Meara, Mallee kicked on for an 80-35 victory.
Paul Davis capped a great match with five goals for the Eagles as Darcy McGregor added two.
Mallee’s best included Brandon Gardiner, Joe Halloran and Josh Bibby.
Liam Whelan, Matt Corney, Tate Hulland, Matt Gilbee and Brock Storer were Tyntynder’s best.
Woorinen Tigers marked a big win on Swan Hill’s turf.
The Tigers led 34-12 at quarter-time and 60-25 by the long break.
Jye Barry, Lachlan Gardner and Will Collicoat won plenty of contests as Woorinen went on to record a 122-34 victory.
Collicoat kicked six goals as Jye Barry and Ben Hunt added three.
Xavier Moloney kicked two goals for Swan Hill.
Best for Woorinen included Thomas Isma, Josh Domaille and Henry Thompson.
Swan Hill’s best were ruckman Toby Thoolen, Jarvis Keogh, Matt Wade, Elijah Miliado, Tom Holdstock and Luke Phelan.
After being held to just five goals in the opening half of its clash with Koondrook Barham, Kerang unleashed a third-quarter blitz at Riverside Park.
The Blues turned a 19-point lead at half-time into a 73-point margin by the last break after they scored 10.6 to 2.0 in a term on home turf.
Rylee Smith went on to kick a match-high five goals in the 124-39 victory.
The Blues had Josh Hann, Sam Heavyside and Jordan McNeil add two goals each.
Koondrook Barham’s attack was led by Jacob Barrington with two.
Best for Kerang were Josh Hann, Rylee Smith, Michael Dalrymple, Sam Heavyside, Ryan Gillingham and Josh Nitschke.
Mitch Christensen, Scott Wood, Colin McVeigh, Jordan Bassett, Patrick Goble and Eli Boyd worked hard for the River Raiders.
Lake Boga had the bye.
Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Kerang 232 per cent, 32 points; Balranald 171, 24; Woorinen 224, 20; Cohuna 106, 20; Lake Boga 107, 16; Nyah Nyah West United 122, 12; Swan Hill 80, 12; Tyntynder 78, 8; Mallee Eagles 70, 8; Tooleybuc Manangatang 76, 4; Koondrook Barham 25, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking stakes:
31 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
24 Rhys Free, Cohuna.
22 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
15 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
14 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
14 Paul Davis, Mallee Eagles.
14 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
14 Bradlee Pay, Kerang.
13 Danko Bzenic, Woorinen.
13 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
12 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
12 Jack Donat, Cohuna.
12 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
12 Michael Runciman, Kerang.
11 Troy Coates, Kerang.
11 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
11 Rylee Smith, Kerang.
10 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
10 Jarrod Findlay, Cohuna.
10 Hayden Hall, Kerang.
10 Jose Miliado, Swan Hill.
A stand-alone match between Swan Hill and Tyntynder will be played this Saturday at Swan Hill.
The match between the Swans and Bulldogs on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend kicks off at 6pm.
Round nine in the Radio 3SH-backed senior competition to be run on June 17 includes Lake Boga against Kerang at Lake Boga Sports Club.
Balranald is on home turf at Greenham Park to play Mallee Eagles.
It’s the Bulldogs up against the Demons as Tyntynder faces Nyah Nyah West United at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Koondrook Barham meets Swan Hill at Barham Recreation Reserve.
Woorinen tackles Tooleybuc Manangatang in Tigers’ territory at Woorinen.
Cohuna Kangas have the bye.