Blues fall behind in finals race after Nathalia loss

By Josh Huntly

Jun 11, 2023

Tongala has fallen three games off the pace of the Murray Football League top six after a heavy defeat to Nathalia in round 11 of the Murray Football League.

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The Blues find themselves precariously perched in 10th with eight games left to play, with their most recent outing resulting in a 71-point loss to the Purples at Tongala Recreation Reserve.

Nathalia was quick out of the blocks with a four-goal to one first term, turning its early buffer into a 29-point lead at half-time.

Trailing 31-68 at the final break, Tongala could only manage one goal in the face of the Purples’ seven-goal blitz, slumping to its seventh defeat of the year.

Tristan Watson, Oliver Watt, and Makenzie Ryan battled hard, but were no match for O’Dwyer Medalist Brodie Ross, Liam Evans (five goals) and Malcolm Barnes (three) as the Purples moved a game clear in the top six.

It is Tongala’s fourth straight defeat, with the Blues’ finals aspirations in jeopardy.

The Blues journey to Lonsdale Reserve this weekend to tackle ladder-leader Mulwala before hosting 2022 surprise packet Finley in round 13.

Cobram will be waiting in the wings in round 14 at Scott Oval.

Tongala will need its best football in that three-game stretch to get its season back on track, with the Blues hoping to avoid missing out on finals for the first time since 2018.