While the senior matches were one sided, Moama kicking a combined 49 goals in senior and reserve grade to United’s six, competition at under-17 level — in particular — was intense.
Oliver Poole, who Echuca United officials are expecting to farewell next season to Bendigo Pioneers duties, was outstanding in the under-17 match and doubled up as the substitute in the senior match.
He was called on very early in that match, coming on to the ground the first quarter after Angus Jackson was subbed out of the match.
Another player with senior experience, Fayte Belmont-Wickliffe, kicked two goals after teammate, and goalsneak, Jackson Gronow, kicked the first three goals for his team.
In the end, however, Echuca United finished 41-point winners as several of its star players with senior experience returned to under-age level.
In the under-14 match the Moama team had 11 goalkickers as it claimed a 10- point win.
Echuca United is undefeated at under-17 levels three rounds into the season, a feat matched by the opening to the season of Moama’s under-14 team.
Next week’s match between United and Cobram pits two of the three unbeaten teams against one another in what looms as an early season highlight.
There are four teams unbeaten in the under-14 competition, who have avoided each other to this stage of the season.
Two of those, Tongala and Cobram, play each other this weekend.
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