BY NATHAN DOLE
Reigning champs kick off series against Eagles
KERANG’S pursuit of a senior footy premiership hat-trick rolls on as it tackles Mallee Eagles in the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray league on Saturday.
The Blues and Eagles will clash in Woorinen from 2.30pm.
First of this season’s meetings between Kerang and Mallee ended in a 43-all draw at Kerang’s Riverside Park in round six.
The round 17 contest went the way of the Troy Coates-coached Blues in the Eagles’ nest in Lalbert by 40 points.
A record of 14 wins, one defeat and one draw meant Kerang finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.
Mallee’s tally of 11-4-1 earned third place.
The Brent Macleod-coached Eagles teamed brilliantly to win last Saturday’s qualifying final against Nyah Nyah West United in Lake Boga by four points.
Key match-ups for Kerang on Saturday will be Josh Hann in the centre against Brent Macleod, Nick Lang to ruck against Jacob O’Meara, and Rylee Gitsham at centre half-forward against Jayden Post.
A talented Blues’ line-up includes Martin Kelly, captain Josh Nitschke, Sam Heavyside, Brad Pay, and Brett Kennedy.
The Eagles have Darcy Hourigan, Paul Davis and Andrew Mead-Harding as key targets in attack.
Mallee will also look to Beau Bennett, Zac O’Meara, Darcy McGregor and Matthew Despott to lead the way to victory.
On Sunday it will be Nyah Nyah West United and Balranald fighting to stay in the premiership race when they clash in Cohuna from 2.30pm.
The NNWU Demons are on the rebound from a four-point loss to Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final.
Balranald marked an 80-72 victory against Cohuna Kangas in the elimination final at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
The Demons and Roos met just once in the home-and-away series.
A NNWU team coached by Jason Murphy and Nick O’Neill won 75-53 in Balranald.
Gun full-forward Brandyn Grenfell will again play a crucial role for the Demons.
The Kangaroos named Brodie Fitzgerald at full-back.
A strong attack for the Demons includes Joel Walsh, Charlie Boulton and Corey Daniels.
NNWU on-ballers Blake Larkings, Ethan Saville and Jordan Iudica will take on Jackson Ferguson, Matt Neagle and Kobe Lloyd.
A great match-up will be in the centre where the Demons have Brayden Bigham against Harrison Soraggi.
Balranald’s attack which includes coach Jydon Neagle, Colin Andrews, Drew Lloyd and Rory Fitzgerald is up against Mitch Grinham, Campbell Everitt, Nic O’Neill and Jaydyn Stirling.
In the reserves competition, Kerang and Woorinen meet in Saturday’s second semi-final in Woorinen at 12.25pm.
A 14-2 record put the Blues on top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away series.
Kerang won its clashes with the Tigers by 82 points in round four, and 59 points in the 15th round.
Woorinen kicked off its finals campaign by scoring a 49-16 win against Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final.
The Eagles take on Lake Boga in Sunday’s first semi-final at 12.25pm.
It’s one-all in this season’s meetings.
The Magpies won 52-41 on Mallee’s turf in the seventh round in Lalbert.
The Eagles soared to a 58-31 victory in Lake Boga in the 18th round.
Lake Boga stayed in the cup race as it won the elimination final against Swan Hill by seven points.
In the Colts competition, Lake Boga and Swan Hill will contest the second semi-final from 10.20am.
The Magpies from Lake Boga soared to the top of the ladder on a 13-3 record.
Swan Hill marked a 47-43 win on Lake Boga’s ground in round eight.
The Swans defeated Kerang in the qualifying final by 41 points.
Kerang will aim to rebound from defeat when it meets Woorinen in the first semi-final.
The Blues won matches against the Tigers by 54 points and one point in rounds four and 15.
Woorinen beat Tooleybuc Manangatang in the elimination final by 33 points.
First match on semi-finals weekend will be the Mildura Health Fund-backed under-15 match between Lake Boga and Swan Hill on Saturday at 9am.
Lake Boga will be aiming to chalk up win number 17 and advance to the grand final.
An unbeaten run by the Magpies included a 75-26 result against the Swans in round eight.
Swan Hill won the qualifying final against Tooleybuc Manangatang by five points.
On Sunday it will be the Tooleybuc Manangatang Saints against Koondrook Barham.
They last met in round nine where the Saints won 64-1 in Tooleybuc.
Koondrook Barham fought on for a 28-20 win against Kerang in the elimination final.
On the netball courts, eight clubs feature in Saturday’s second semi-finals.
In A-grade, Lake Boga puts an unbeaten streak of 16 matches on the line against Swan Hill.
The Swans only loss in the run to the finals was a 52-36 defeat in Lake Boga in the eighth round.
It will be Balranald against Mallee Eagles in the A-grade first semi-final on Sunday in Cohuna.
The Kangaroos from Balranald are on the rebound from a 40-32 loss to Swan Hill in the qualifying final.
Back in round eight, Eagles soared to a 44-39 win on Balranald’s court in Greenham Park.
Five other clubs feature in the first semi-finals on the Kangaroos’ courts in Cohuna.
Schedule for Saturday’s netball second semi-finals in Woorinen:
15-and-under at 9am, court one: Tyntynder v Lake Boga.
13-and-under at 10.25am, court two: Tooleybuc Manangatang v Lake Boga.
17-and-under at 10.25am, court one: Cohuna Kangas v Tooleybuc Manangatang.
B-grade at 11.50am, court two: Woorinen v Swan Hill.
A-reserve at 1.15pm, court one: Balranald v Mallee Eagles.
B-reserve at 1.15pm, court two: Swan Hill v Tyntynder.
A-grade at 2.40pm, court one: Lake Boga v Swan Hill.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals in Cohuna:
15-and-under at 9am, court one: Swan Hill v Koondrook Barham.
13-and-under at 10.25am, court two: Woorinen v Koondrook Barham.
17-and-under at 10.25am, court one: Woorinen v Kerang.
B-grade at 11.50am, court two: Koondrook Barham v Cohuna Kangas.
A-reserve at 1.15pm, court one: Swan Hill v Woorinen.
B-reserve at 1.15pm, court two: Cohuna Kangas v Balranald.
A-grade at 2.40pm, court one: Balranald v Mallee Eagles.