THE Tooleybuc Manangatang Saints have turned up the heat on Koondrook Barham in the race to the Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray senior footy finals.
As Tooleybuc Manangatang won last Saturday’s round 15 clash in Kerang’s Riverside Park the Koondrook Barham team was beaten on Nyah Nyah West United’s ground.
Latest results have put the sixth-placed Saints a win and less than four per cent behind the fifth-placed Koondrook Barham at three rounds to go.
Tooleybuc Manangatang dominated most of the second half of the match in Kerang.
The Blues led 23-19 at quarter-time before the Saints took control in the second.
As the Saints scored 5.4 the Blues added 3.2.
A 10-point buffer at the long break for Tooleybuc Manangatang became four goals leading into the final term.
As the Saints scored three majors in the last the Blues added three behinds.
The Brad Morris-coached Saints marked a 115-71 victory in which Ethan Johnstone kicked five goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Saints were Connor Nutting, four; Josh Domaille, Josh Koster, two.
Kerang’s leading goalkicker was Zak Bozanich on four as Archer Dibsdale slotted two.
Best for the Saints were Ethan Johnstone, Rydar Morris, Connor Mcdonald, Elliot Chalmers, Kallum Hazlett and Jesse Wilson.
Zak Bozanich, Leigham McAlpin, Jonah McKnight, Scott Pay, Thomas Hetherington and Bohden McKnight played well for the Paul Grayling-coached Kerang.
At Nyah it was the Nyah Nyah West United Demons who withstood a second-half fightback by the River Raiders from Koondrook Barham.
The NNWU Demons led 36-7 at quarter-time.
The River Raiders won the second term, 34-14, and were within two points going into the final quarter after they scored 3.3 in the third and NNWU added 2.2.
Inspired by the play of Zack Threadgold, Nash Richman and Riley Daniels it was the Demons who handled the heat.
Nyah Nyah West scored four goals in the last as the KB team added 2.2.
At the final siren the Demons were up 91-76.
The NNWU attack was led by Nic O’Neill on three goals as Jordan Iudica added two.
Leading goalkicker for Koondrook Barham was Warren Lolicato on a match-high five goals.
Best for a NNWU Demons team coached by Corey Daniels and Jason Murphy included Dominic Gallo and Brady Davidson.
Nathan O’Toole, Jacob Barrington, Warren Lolicato, Jack Thomas, Jack Thrum and Jordan Bassett were best for the Marcus Demaria-coached River Raiders.
The all-Kangaroos showdown between Balranald and Cohuna ended in a big win for Cohuna at Greenham Park.
The Jack Geary-coached Cohuna slammed on eight goals and kept Balranald scoreless in the opening term
By half-time Cohuna led 77-1.
Cohuna’s run and skill were highlights as it kicked on for a 155-8 victory.
Jacob Mitchell led the attack on six goals as Daniel Coates, Joel Helman and Tom Toma booted three each.
Cohuna had Lachlan English and Jude Palmer kick two goals.
Balranald’s sole goalkicker was Roarke Smith.
Best for Cohuna were Joel Helman, Tom Toma, Will Lee, Ricky Monti, Chris Anderson and Brady Walerys.
Balranald’s best were Jack Salau, Ryan Middlebrook, Tanner Coulthard, Yodok Soille, Roarke Smith and Tim Marsh.
The Balranald team is jointly coached by Ben Fuller, Ben Mahon and Jack Salau.
Tyntynder could not halt the impressive run of the Woorinen Tigers at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Woorinen led 34-6 at quarter-time and 67-27 by the main break.
In the final hour the Tim Free-coached Tigers scored 11.12 and kept Tyntynder to a tally of 2.1.
Jose Miliado and Kyle Skene kicked four goals as Matt Perry added three in a 145-40 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the yellow and black were Jye Barry, Doug Beames and Lachlan Warburton with two.
Tyntynder’s attack was led by Harry Simpson with two.
Best for Woorinen were Matt Gardner, Henry Thompson, Kane Reid, Lachlan Warburton, Jye Barry and Josh Stone.
The Bulldogs’ best were Mick Dedini, Harry Simpson, Jack Kirby, Kyle Doran, Eddy Schifferle and Sam Bull.
Tyntynder is jointly coached by Darcy Bibby, Justin Ellis and Charlie Ford.
It was the Eagles against the Swans as Mallee play Swan Hill in Lalbert.
An inaccurate Mallee scored 5.10 in the opening term as it led 40-nil by the break.
By half-time the Eagles had soared to a 71-12 lead after Conner Arif kicked what would be the Swans only goals.
Quarter three was to be one of the Eagles’ best of the season as they slammed on 11 goals and kept the Swans to just three behinds.
By the final siren Mallee led 187-16.
Gun forwards Darcy Hourigan and Andrew Mead-Harding both kicked seven goals.
Eagles’ captain Zac O’Meara slotted five as Jacob O’Meara booted four and Brady Fordham added two.
Best for Mallee were Zac O’Meara, Isaiah Bull, Clinton Cummins, Brett Thomas, Jonah Devlin and Brady Fordham.
The Eagles are coached by Brent Macleod and Harry Allen.
Swan Hill’s best were Brenton Halligan, Will Simpson, Tom Holdstock, Cooper Angus, Harry Graham and Conner Arif.
The Swans are coached by Michael Herlihy.
Lake Boga had the bye.
Radio 3SH-backed Central Murray FNL senior footy ladder:
Woorinen 252 per cent, 52 points; Mallee Eagles 281, 44; Cohuna Kangas 253, 44; Nyah Nyah West United 129, 36; Koondrook Barham 105, 32; Tooleybuc Manangatang 101, 28; Lake Boga 73, 20; Kerang 70, 16; Balranald 43, 12; Tyntynder 51, 8; Swan Hill 35, 4.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 16th round will be Cohuna Kangas on home turf to tackle Mallee Eagles from 2.30pm.
Balranald will be back on home turf in Greenham Park to play Nyah Nyah West United.
Koondrook Barham and Lake Boga will clash at Barham Recreation Reserve.
Swan Hill will play Tooleybuc Manangatang at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
It’s a bye for Kerang, Tyntynder, and Woorinen.
Leading goalkickers:
53 Darcy Hourigan, Mallee Eagles.
39 Andrew Mead-Harding, Mallee Eagles.
37 Connor Nutting, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
35 Jacob Mitchell, Cohuna Kangas.
33 Matt Perry, Woorinen.
29 Kye Attwell, Koondrook Barham.
29 Zac Bozanich, Kerang.
29 Tom Toma, Cohuna Kangas.
28 Doug Beames, Woorinen.
28 Brent Macleod, Mallee Eagles.
26 Ben Fuller, Balranald.
26 Joel Helman, Cohuna Kangas.
26 Jose Miliado, Woorinen.
25 Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Lake Boga.
24 Kallen Heslop, Swan Hill.
23 Will Collicoat, Woorinen.
23 Braden Padmore, Lake Boga.
23 Kyle Skene, Woorinen.
23 Elia Ware, Tyntynder.
22 Corbin Anderson, Cohuna Kangas.
22 Patrick Goble, Koondrook Barham.
21 Jude Palmer, Cohuna Kangas.
20 Corey Daniels, Nyah Nyah West United.
20 Ethan Johnstone, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
20 Nick O’Neill, Nyah Nyah West United.
19 Isaac Franks, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
18 Hugh Thompson, Woorinen.
17 Josh Koster, Tooleybuc Manangatang.
17 Jayden Lonergan, Lake Boga.
17 Ethan Pinchen, Mallee Eagles.
17 Matthew Rankine, Mallee Eagles.
17 Lachlan Warburton, Woorinen.
16 Jacob O’Meara, Mallee Eagles.
16 Ricky Monti, Cohuna Kangas.
15 Matt Bilton, Koondrook Barham.
15 Daniel Coates, Cohuna Kangas.
15 Rex Hickman, Lake Boga.
15 Bohden McKnight, Kerang.