BY NATHAN DOLE
Eagles soar into Central Murray’s top five
MALLEE Eagles soared into the top five after Saturday’s round nine victory against Tyntynder in round nine of the Radio 3SH-backed senior footy competition in the Central Murray.
The Eagles were on home turf at Lalbert to take on the Bulldogs.
The Brent Macleod-coached Mallee raced to a 32-13 lead by quarter-time and then scored 3.2 to 2.6 in the second term.
Tyntynder fought back brilliantly in the third quarter.
The Jack O’Rourke-coached Bulldogs slammed on 5.2 and kept Mallee to a tally of 1.3.
Going into the final term it was Tyntynder which led 63-61.
Mallee won the final term, 23-13, and the match, 84-76.
The Eagles’ attack was led by Darcy Hourigan with six goals in a best afield performance.
Roy George booted four goals for Tyntynder as Jason Eagle and Jayden Magro added three.
Best for Mallee were Darcy Hourigan, Brent Macleod, Harrison Allen, Troy Anderson, Harry McGregor and Brett Thomas.
Elia Ware, Harry Simpson, Ned Lay, Elliot Broad, Matt Gilbee and Jayden Magro played well for the Bulldogs.
Tooleybuc Manangatang fought on for a 22-point win against Koondrook Barham at Tooleybuc.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints turned a one-goal lead at quarter-time into a 31-point buffer by the main break after it scored 5.2 to 1.1 in the second term.
Koondrook Barham hit back to win the third, 21-5.
A closely-fought last quarter went the Saints way, 15-8, to seal an 84-62 victory.
Kai Kearns kicked three goals for the Saints as Johnathan Marsden, Jesse Wilson and Josh Williams booted two each.
The River Raiders’ attack was led by Kye Attwell and Mitch Christensen on three each.
Best for Tooleybuc Manangatang were John Wardle, Kai Kearns, Harrison Maher, Connor McDonald and Josh Williams.
Mitch Christensen, Kye Attwell, Xavier Leonard, Ryan Bassett, Cambell Davison and Scott Wood played well for the Will Callow-coached Koondrook Barham team.
A seven-goal burst in the third quarter put Kerang in control of its clash on the Cohuna Kangas ground.
The Troy Coates-coached Kerang led 56-40 at half-time and then slammed on 7.4 to 2.3 in the third quarter.
Cohuna hit back to win the last, 29-19, but it was the Blues who took the points in a 121-84 result.
Sean Hunter and Brett Kennedy were in great touch as they kicked five goals each for Kerang as Jordan McNeil and Jarryd Pertzel booted two.
The Kangas’ attack was led by Ryan Semmel, four; Dylan Johnstone, three; and Jackson Williams, two.
Kerang’s best were Sean Hunter, Josh Hann, Brett Kennedy, Tyson Clingnan, Josh Nitschke and Jesse Clark.
Ryan Semmel, Xavier Mitchell, Jayden Cordy, Chris Anderson, Jarrod Findlay and Joel Helman were best for the Jack Geary-coached Kerang.
Balranald won every quarter on its way to a 119-78 victory on Swan Hill’s turf.
The Jydon Neagle-coached Kangaroos won a high-scoring opening term, 33-24.
By half-time Balranald led 62-40.
A tally of 5.4 to 3.1 in the third put the Roos well in control.
Drew Lloyd went on to kick four goals as Jydon and Matt Neagle finished with three each and Seth Connell chipped in with two majors in a 119-78 victory.
Swan Hill’s attack was led by coach Michael Herlihy and Ned McKeown on three each as Cooper Angus chipped in with two.
Best for Balranald were Ryan Middlebrook, Drew Lloyd, Jack Jones, Sebastian Papa, Jack Salau and Jake Lockhart.
Michael Herlihy, Thomas Corridan, Elijah Miliado, Toby Thoolen, Cooper Angus and Brandon Houlihan were best for the Swans.
A dominant first half set up Nyah Nyah West United’s win at home against Lake Boga.
The .Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill-coached NNWU charged to a 31-1 lead by quarter-time.
Term two went the way of the Demons, 13-7.
Lake Boga was far more competitive in the second half.
The Magpies outscored the Demons, 7.7 to 7.5 across the final hour.
At the final siren Nyah Nyah West United led 91-57.
Brandyn Grenfell kicked five goals for the Demons as Dominic Gallo and Ethan Saville added two.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Jayden Lonergan on five.
Best for NNWU were Dominic Gallo, Ethan Saville, Charlie Boulton, Blake Larkings, Alex Erlandson and Joel Walsh.
Zac Warne, Dylan McCosh, Marty Parsons, Taylor Johnstone, Koben Ryan and Will Doquile played well for the Dean Helmers-coached Magpies.
Woorinen had the bye.
Central Murray senior footy ladder:
Nyah Nyah West United 144 per cent, 28 points; Kerang 151, 26; Woorinen 135, 24; Balranald 134, 24; Mallee Eagles 106, 22; Tooleybuc Manangatang 103, 20; Tyntynder 102, 20; Cohuna Kangas 92, 8; Lake Boga 61, 8; Swan Hill 67, 0; Koondrook Barham 52, 0.
In next Saturday’s round 10 action, Balranald is home at Greenham Park to play Nyah Nyah West United from 2.30pm.
Koondrook Barham clashes with Mallee Eagles at Barham.
Lake Boga faces Cohuna Kangas as Lake Boga Sports Club.
Woorinen and Tooleybuc Manangatang clash in Tigers’ territory.
Kerang has the bye.
Tyntynder and Swan Hill played a stand-alone match on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend on June 8.
The Bulldogs won 103-97 at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Leading goalkickers:
37 Brandyn Grenfell, Nyah Nyah West United.
32 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
25 Drew Lloyd, Balranald.
22 Jason Eagle, Tyntynder.
18 Colin Andrews, Balranald.
18 Josh Williams, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
17 Lachlan Gardner, Woorinen.
17 Jydon Neagle, Balranald.
17 Matt Neagle, Balranald.
16 Roy George, Tyntynder.
16 Jayden Magro, Tyntynder.
14 Michael Herlihy, Swan Hill.
13 Charlie Boulton, Nyah Nyah West United.
13 Izaac Johnson, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Dylan Johnstone, Cohuna Kangas.
13 Jordan McNeil, Kerang.
13 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
12 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
12 Arnold Kirby, Woorinen.
12 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
12 Nic O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
11 Sean Hunter, Kerang.
11 Kai Kearns, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
11 Lachlan Lellman, Balranald.
11 Johnathan Marsden, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
11 Clayton McCartney, Woorinen.
11 Ned McKeown, Swan Hill.
10 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
10 Archer Dibsdale, Kerang.
10 Toby Thoolen, Swan Hill.
9 Mitch Christensen, Koondrook Barham.
9 David Gourdis, Lake Boga.
9 Ryan Semmel, Cohuna Kangas.
8 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
8 Luke Phelan, Swan Hill.
8 Liam White, Nyah Nyah West United.
PHOTO – Erin Scaresbrook