NYAH Nyah West United and Koondrook Barham stayed in the Radio 3SH Central Murray senior footy premiership race as they won the weekend’s semi-finals.
Stung by their first loss of the season to Cohuna Kangas in the qualifying final, Nyah Nyah West Unite took on Hay in Saturday’s semi-final one at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
The Lions took it right up to the Demons to be in front, 24-21 at quarter-time.
In the second it was the Corey Daniels-coached NNWU which took charge.
As the Demons scored five goals they kept Hay to a tally of 1.3.
By the long break break NNWU was up 52-33.
A Lions’ team coached by Mick Cattanach and ??? fought back strongly.
Hay won third quarter, 17-4.
Heat was on the Demons as they led by a goal going into the last.
The red and blue responded to the challenge and scored four goals as Hay kicked two.
When the final siren sounded NNWU led 85-64.
The Demons’ attack was led by Charlie Boulton with four goals as Corey Daniels kicked two.
Other goalkickers for NNWU were Scott Carlin, Brady Davidson, Blake Larkings, Jonathon Ross, Beau Schwarze and Max Thompson.
Declan Watson led Hay’s attack with three goals as James Lugsdin kicked two and Tom Banuelos, Fergus Cattanach, William Collis and Angus Gardiner added one each.
Best for the Demons were Scott Carlin, Dominic Gallo, Charlie Boulton, Corey Daniels, Lachlan Ritchie and Zack Threadgold.
Hay’s best were Tom Banuelos, Jim Houston, Tom Sheldrick, Fergus Cattanach, Dylan Collis and Jack Cattanach.
Nyah Nyah West United will now tackle reigning premier Woorinen in next Sunday’s second preliminary final at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
It was a dramatic finish to Sunday’s semi-final two between Koondrook Barham and Mallee Eagles at Murrabit Recreation Reserve.
The Marcus Demaria-coached Koondrook Barham led 32-31 at quarter-timeand 62-52 by the long break.
Quarter three was dominated by Mallee Eagles.
The Harry Allen-coached Eagles scored 5.2 and kept the River Raiders to a solitary goal in the crucial third quarter.
Inspired by the play of Clayton McCartney, Kye Attwell and Jacob Barrington it was Koondrook Barham which charged back into the contest.
The River Raiders scored five straight goals as the Eagles added 2.1.
Goalkicking accuracy was a key factor as Koondrook Barham racked up 16.3 (99) and the Eagles were on 15.7 (97) at the final siren.
Clayton McCartney kicked seven goals in a best afield performance as Kye Attwell added five.
Other goalkickers for the River Raiders were Harry Bremner, Patrick Goble and Nathan O’Toole.
Goalkickers for Mallee Eagles were Darcy Hourigan, four; Jayden Post and Marcus Wattie, three; Jack Landt, two; Shaun Harrison, Cody Henness and Darcy McGregor.
Koondrook Barham’s best included Jack Poulton, Jack Shannon and Harry Bremner.
Best for the Eagles were Harry McGregor, Isaiah Bull, Darcy McGregor, Harry Allen, Jayden Post and Max Parsons.
Next up for Koondrook Barham will be Saturday’s first preliminary final against Cohuna Kangas at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
In the reserves competition, Swan Hill won semi-final one against Lake Boga by 37 points.
The Swans faced an eight-point deficit at half-time as the Magpies were up 22-14 at Nyah Recreation Reserve.
It was 29-23 in favour of Lake Boga going into the final term.
Swan Hill slammed on seven goals in the last and kept the Magpies to a behind.
At the final siren the Swans were up 67-30 and through to next Sunday’s second preliminary final against Nyah Nyah West United in Kerang.
Shannon Polglase led Swan Hill’s attack with four goals as Conner Arif, Zac Cordwell, Jack Fletcher, Harry Graham and Kaylem Hartley kicked one each.
Goals for the Magpies were kicked by Bodi Clune, Darby Hayes, Callan Noonan and Brody Palmer.
Swan Hill’s best were Matt Battenally, Hayden Glare, Kaylem Hartley, Harry Graham, Jett Hinton and Zac Cordwell.
Lake Boga’s best were Jake Hepburn, Callan Noonan, Zac Palmer, Patrick Storer, Shannon O’Reilly and Nash McDonald.
On Sunday it was Ultima which won the second of the reserves semi-finals against Koondrook Barham by two goals.
The Kangaroos and River Raiders met on Murrabit’s turf.
Koondrook Barham led 10-8 at quarter-time, but Ultima won the next three terms – 15-8, 19-13, and 18-17.
At the final siren the Ultima Storm led 60-48 to advance to a preliminary final clash with Mallee Eagles in Balranald next Saturday.
Kade Benfield capped a great match with four goals as Jack O’Rourke and Ricky Wild kicked two and Ryan Devereux was also on target.
Goals for Koondrook Barham were kicked by Mitchell Lowry, two; Warren Lolicato, Danny Main, Marc O’Neill and Kade Watts.
Ultima’s best were Ricky Wild, Billy O’Toole, Beau Russell, Lincoln Frost, Dylan Pascoe and Martyn Cooper.
Best for the River Raiders were Corey Barrington, Marc O’Neill, Danny Main, Mitchell Lowry, Matt Lolicato and Joel Davidson.
In the Colts competition, Koondrook Barham marked a 77-34 victory against Wandella in semi-final one played on Saturday in Nyah.
Riley Zielecki led the Koondrook Barham attack with three goals as Jye Hamilton, Noah Saunders and Clay Watts kicked two each.
The KB team had Brodie Hall and Tennysen O’Neill slot a goal.
Jaspa Chamberlain, Abraham Keating, Alby Lancaster, Seth Rowe and Jardal Simons were on target for Wandella.
Best for the River Raiders were Max Snowdon, Lachlan Maher, Ethan Patten, Riley Zielecki, Ryder Laursen and Riley D’Silva.
Wandella’s best were Will Hogg, Jaspa Chamberlain, Tye Colville, Alby Lancaster, Sam Hollingworth and Harvey Macri.
The River Raiders will play the Saints from Tooleybuc Manangatang in next Sunday’s preliminary final in Kerang.
Swan Hill dominated last Sunday’s semi-final two against Woorinen in Murrabit.
The Swans scored 26 goals on their way to a 174-22 victory against the Tigers.
Jaron Cardenas kicked four goals in a best afield performance as Noah Pearson also added four goals.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Swans were Clem Harris and Thomas Robertson, three; Mitch Bannam, Sonny Beasy, Jimmy Kelly and Bryce Townsend, two.
Lane Cardenas, Harry Hunter, Bodhi Kelly and Tyler Marold kicked a goal each.
Was a tough morning for Woorinen in which Harper Holland slotted two goals and Rory Mazzarella added the other.
Best for Swan Hill were Jaron Cardenas, Noah Pearson, Bodhi Kelly, Sam Brown, Sam Scott and Lenny Ryan.
The Tigers’ best were Jett Bolton, Jonty Worner, Harper Holland, Rory Mazzarella, Bailey Bowd and Elwood Stacey.
Swan Hill will tackle Lake Boga in the clash of the Swans and Magpies in next Saturday’s preliminary final in Balranald.
The first of the semi-finals in the Mildura Health Fund under-15s competition featured Nyah Nyah West United and Murrabit on Nyah’s turf.
Although NNWU had home-ground advantage it was the Murrabit Blues who dominated to win by 13 goals.
Murrabit led 103-25 at the final siren.
Zane McKerrow kicked six goals for the Blues as Leo Ellison added four.
Other goalkickers for Murrabit were Jobe Hein, two; Parker Bray, Riley Danson and Archie McCombe.
Elijan Curran kicked two goals for NNWU as Donny Andrews and Zac Whimpress were on target.
Murrabit’s best were Blake O’Halloran, Jobe Hein, Zane McKerrow, Leo Ellison, Parker Bray and Darcy Ellison.
The Demons’ best were Elijah Curran, Jack Barry, Logan Paley, Zac Whimpress, Chase Poyner and Tyrone Nolen.
The Blues will now Swan Hill in next Sunday’s preliminary final at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
It was a five-point margin at the end of Sunday’s semi-final between Lake Boga and Koondrook Barham in Murrabit.
Lake Boga fought back from a one-goal deficit at half-time and being down by four points at three quarter-time to claim a 44-39 victory.
Ethan O’Bryan led the Magpies’ attack on two goals as Ethan Clarke, Zac Everett, Leevi Mayes and Lucas Pay kicked a major.
Goalkickers for Koondrook Barham were Tennyesen O’Neill and Ryan Roberts with two each, and Mac Lake and Eddie Puddick.
Lake Boga’s best were Emerson Doolan, Matt Haines, Leevi Mayes, Ethan Clarke, Jett Dedini and Walter Lazarou.
Mac Lake, Tennysen O’Neill, Thomas Bell, Ted Hobson, Chester Myers and Zavier Dean played well for the River Raiders.
It’s the Eagles against the Magpies as Mallee and Lake Boga meet in next Saturday’s first preliminary final in Balranald.
Schedule for Saturday’s first preliminary finals at Balranald’s Greenham Park:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 9am: Mallee Eagles v Lake Boga.
Colts at 10.20am: Lake Boga v Swan Hill.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Mallee Eagles v Ultima.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Cohuna Kangas v Koondrook Barham.
Schedule for Sunday’s second preliminary finals at Kerang’s Riverside Park:
Mildura Health Fund under-15s at 9am: Swan Hill v Murrabit.
Colts at 10.20am: Tooleybuc Manangatang v Koondrook Barham.
Reserves at 12.25pm: Nyah West United v Swan Hill.
Seniors at 2.30pm: Woorinen v Nyah Nyah West United.