Echuca vs Shepparton United
Echuca went a perfect three-for-three against Shepparton United in the men’s football with the reserves dominating and the under-18s escaping in a close contest.
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The Echuca reserves 18.17 (125) put in a strong first step on the quest back to the flag, taking down the Demons 2.4 (16) who finished last season in ninth.
Shepparton United couldn’t reach double-figures in any quarter, with the side managing only a single minor score by half-time.
By that same time, Echuca had put on nearly 70, which included 10 goals, led by Harry Barden and Mitchell Bell, who had three goals apiece for the game.
It was a stark contrast for the under-18s who, despite getting the win, did it an entirely different way.
The Echuca 10.6 (66) thirds finished with an eight-point win against the Demons 8.10 (58).
However, the boys in green couldn’t put in a solid four quarters of football, tapering off after a strong start in the first, then reviving after half-time, before putting in its worst quarter of the game on the offensive end in the final frame despite coming out winners.
Echuca’s Hudson Kellett was a stand-out on the field, as he was the only player able to kick more than one goal, ending his day with four.
In the netball, all but one of the Echuca sides got wins, with mixed results ranging from total domination to absolute thrillers.
The Echuca B-graders tallied a monstrous 38-point victory against the Demons 59-21.
The side put on an attacking master-class through the middle quarters, scoring 17 and 16 goals in the second and third periods, respectively.
The B-reserve girls weren’t lucky enough to rattle off a victory, going down to the Demons 27-32 in a much closer affair.
After a close first quarter where the girls in green trailed by just a sole goal, the Demons pulled ahead through the middle period but Echuca managed to pull it back in the final frame to end the game just five goals short.
The under-17s walked away from round one with a 24-point victory that will put them in good stead for the rest of the season.
Echuca’s 57 to 33 win was strong, yet a 19-goal final quarter from the girls in green made it a much larger success then it looked to be heading into the final frame.
Lastly, the under-15s had perhaps the most interesting match of the round for the club, clinching a thrilling one-point victory over the Demons 50-49.
The under-15s side trailed at the end of every quarter of the contest, by as much as four in the second, before storming home with a 14-goal final frame to snatch victory.
Moama vs Nathalia
While Moama’s senior and A-grade sides suffered defeats at the hands of Nathalia, the lower grades managed to boost the club’s spirits by getting victories in every lower football and netball grade except one.
The reserves 12.10 (82) looked in a class of their own against the Purples 2.4 (16) who struggled majorly to convert opportunities as Moama dominated the ball.
The Magpies managed to score double figures in every quarter while Nathalia could only tally one goal in each of the first two quarters and less in the second half.
Jake Kilmartin had an absolute field day in the opening round, the Magpie collecting a bag for himself in the dominating performance.
It was a similar situation in the under-17s except the performance was even more impressive as Moama 17.13 (115) held Nathalia 1.2 (8) to below double-figures the whole game.
The side had tallied well over 30 before Nathalia even got on the board and kept the home side goalless until the third quarter.
Dane Dickinson managed six goals off his own boot, spearheading Moama to a dominant win.
The Moama under-14s 1.6 (12) were the only lower grade football side to lose, falling short to Nathalia 7.6 (48).
The Magpies’ one and only goal of the match came in the third quarter courtesy of Tommy Dohnt while the Purples’ Hayden Feltham was the leading scorer for his side with a pair of goals.
Moama’s B-grade netballers shone against Nathalia, claiming a 14-point victory in the opening round.
While the first half was close with Nathalia trailing by just three goals at quarter and half-time respectively, Moama began pulling away in the third term, ultimately finishing 54-40.
In C-grade, the game was neck and neck through the first half between Moama and Nathalia, but a split emerged in the third quarter that ultimately gave Moama a five-point victory.
The final score was Moama 41 to Nathalia 36.
Ultimately, it wasn’t to be for the Moama C-reserve outfit who suffered a 22-goal loss to Nathalia.
The Magpies weren’t able to come back after going down by 10 at quarter-time, the final score ending up as Moama 36 to Nathalia 58.
The under-17s had the biggest victory of them all, putting on 72 goals to 20 against Nathalia.
The 52-goal victory was apparent by half-time as Nathalia was only able to score five goals a quarter the entire match.
Following in the under-17s’ footsteps, the under-15 Magpies blew through their opponents to take a 36-goal win.
The final score was Moama 51 to Nathalia 15.
Finally, the under-13s Moama side was too much for Nathalia, scoring 32 goals on their way to a 30-goal victory.
Nathalia was only able to score one goal in each of the first two quarters and remained scoreless in the second half.
Echuca United vs Tongala
Tongala overpowered United in the reserves, running away 11.15 (81) to 1.5 (11) winners.
The Eagles kept touch in the opening stanza, trailing by only five, but stalled from that point on, allowing the Blues to continue adding to their lead throughout the contest.
The Blues shared the goal-kicking around with only Clayton Watson slotting multiple goals, while Riley Armstrong kicked the lone major for United.
It was a close contest in the under-17 division, the Blues escaping a late Eagles surge to win by a goal, 9.5 (59) to 7.8 (50).
Leading by 23 at the final change, Tongala was left scoreless in the final period, but managed to hold on as the clock expired.
Angus McMahon kicked five goals before earning a senior call-up for the Eagles later in the day, while Jedd Turpin was the Eagles’ leading scorer, kicking four.
The Eagles earlier won in the under-14 battle, 7.9 (51) to 2.5 (17), ensuring the two sides would split the overall football honours across the round.
Tonny could only find the centre sticks in the second quarter, kicking both of its goals in that period.
Tanner Coatsworth led United’s scorers with three majors.
In netball, Tongala got the best of B-grade, 40-33.
In a close battle throughout, the Blues won each of the first three quarters by four goals or fewer, before United narrowed the margin in the final term.
The Blues had an easier run in C-grade, scoring a huge 61-29 win.
Tonny led by 25 points at the main break, but the Eagles kept it closer in the second half to only go down by 32 goals overall.
In a rematch of the overtime thriller that was the C-Reserve grand final, Tongala didn’t push it quite so close this time, winning 41-26.
Coming out of the off-season, United will be disappointed with its opening quarter where it could only manage a single score making it an unclimbable mountain for the rest of the game.
In the under-17s contest, the Eagles’ young guns proved the stronger, winning 49-23.
United diligently built a lead throughout the match, extending the advantage at every change.
The Eagles also proved their worth in the under-15s battle, getting the best of the game 25-19.
The game was in the balance through three quarters at 15-all, but a late run saw United claim victory in the fourth.
Echuca United completed the junior sweep with a 29-15 win for the under-13 side.
The match was in the balance after the first but an uncontested 10-0 second period set the tone for the rest of the game.