Under 14 - Echuca Bombers
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Due to the recent lockdown, Echuca Bombers’ usual Wednesday training night morphed into a ‘battle of the Bombers teams’ as they faced off against Echuca Murray Bombers in a make-up game.
The first quarter saw the Bombers put the pressure on early with Cody Walker, Liam Gronow and Jett Kervin making their presence felt in the midfield.
Riley Carr and Bailee Smith kept the pressure on in the backline, while Kristian Fitzsimmons proved valuable early, managing to move the ball forward out of congestion, while Elijah Swiggs worked hard as well for an impressive link up with Dhara Canham.
Ned Ash-Townrow contested well in the ruck and Albert Cunningham managed to snag a ripper of a goal early on.
Gronow then turned up the heat, chasing down his opponents and laying several good tackles. Ted Voss managed to kick a sneaky goal in the goal square and as the siren went, Echuca found itself up by a goal.
The second quarter proved to be a close one with both sides clearly hungry for the ball. Fitzsimmons got plenty of the Sherrin, foiling the Murray Bombers’ attempts at goal.
Kervin managed to kick the ball off the ground for a bouncer through the big sticks, which was promptly followed by a successful shot on goal from Gronow
Meanwhile, Smith laid a terrific tackle and Beth Morris consistently put her body on the line to gain the ball.
The third quarter saw the ball rarely leave the Bombers’ backline as the Murray Bombers turned up the pressure.
Fitzsimmons took a solid mark in the goal square and bagged another goal for his side, while Tom Oliver made himself known in the packs and Canham responded to any attacks in the backline.
The final quarter saw the Murray Bombers slip further away from the Bombers on the scoreboard.
Walker and Fitzsimmons worked tirelessly while Charlie Kenna put on plenty of shepherding. Solid performances in the backline were also had by Carr and Sam O’Brien.
● The Echuca Bombers then travelled to Tatura on Sunday to tackle the bottom-placed Bulldogs.
There were some question marks hanging over the head of a few players after a short turnaround from Wednesday night's game as Tatura won the toss and elected to kick with the breeze.
Sam O’Brien started in the ruck and gave first opportunity to his on-ballers with Cody Walker crumbing the first contest and finding a target in Baily Smith.
Smith was quick to play on and move the ball forward, and after four consecutive points the Bombers finally got it through the big sticks when Walker roved the pack and kicked truly.
Echuca again sent the ball deep into attack to find Smith, who went back and nailed his team's second for the quarter.
This sprang Tatura into action and saw the Bulldogs penetrate the ball deep into their forward line, before some wonderful overhead marking by Jye Field and pressure from Ned Ash–Townrow, Dhara Canham and Bethy Morris enabled Echuca to repel Tatura’s forward efforts and finish the quarter ahead on the scoreboard.
The second quarter started with some strong overhead marking from Riely Carr, who pushed the ball deep into attack and Kristian Fitzsimmons used teammate Jett Kervin as his springboard to take a hanger and mark of the day.
This gave Fitzsimmons great confidence, as he went on to add another two goals for the quarter.
Echuca’s willingness to give the ball to a player in a better position started to pay dividends with Elijah Swiggs, Riley Chivers-Sellings, Walker and Smith all adding goals for the quarter.
The third quarter saw Tatura come out fired up and wanting to add to the scoreboard. Charlie Kenna was thrown deep into defence to hold off the attack and ensure Echuca stayed tight on the opposition.
Echuca started to look for the Voss brothers, Ted and Charlie, on each wing and they in turn found plenty of forward options. Meanwhile, Kervin was showing plenty up forward to create opportunities for his teammates with his lethal right foot kicks.
Echuca came into the fourth quarter with its tail up and looking to add to the final score. Jenson O’Farrell dominated out of the centre bounces and Tom Oliver presented up forward, taking contested grabs and having shots on goal.
Lenny Griffiths was quick to pick up a loose ball to slot the first of six final quarter majors for Echuca.
Game one final score: Echuca Murray Bombers 8.17 (65) d Echuca Bombers 5.2 (32)
Goals: A. Cunningham, K. Fitzsimmons, L. Gronow, J. Kervin, T. Voss.
Awards: K. Fitzsimmons, J. Kervin, N. Ash-Townrow, D. Canham, B. Morris, A. Cunningham.
Game two final score: Echuca Bombers 18.22 (130) d Tatura Bulldogs 3.0 (18)
Goal kickers: K. Fitzsimmons 5, C. Walker 4, B. Smith 3, L. Griffiths. T. Voss, E. Swiggs, R. Chivers-Sellings.
Awards: J. Field, R. Chivers-Selling, T. Oliver, L. Griffiths, B. Smith.
Echuca Murray Bombers
Final score: Mooroopna Cats 8.4 (52) d Echuca Murray Bombers 8.3 (51. Goal Kickers: A. Donchi 2, K. Henson 2, E. Carlile, C. O'Toole, J. Scragg, D. Irwin
Under 12 - Echuca White
Echuca White showed amazing sportsmanship before the first ball was even bounced as players graciously filled in for Echuca United Blue throughout the game.
It was obvious the team members had missed their footy over the past few weeks, and it didn’t take long for players to get the ball straight out of the centre which resulted in Mitch Sutton nabbing the team's first goal.
A second one came quickly for Sutton, with Henry Bell showing his signature grit and relentless chasing of the ball before Angus Tonkin kicked around the opposition to deliver the ball to Sutton.
Paddy Oliver, Will Hatfield and Arley Canham put plenty of pressure on United’s forwards and kept delivering the ball to their own forward line.
The second quarter was full of highlights including a superb goal by George Allen, while Will Walshe and Mitch Sutton showed great strength and determination by getting the ball out of the middle.
Archie White backed up from last weeks’ solid game to lay some impressive tackles, as consistent teamwork and efficient disposals from Lily Dunham, Hunter Reid, Jacob Brighton and Toby Kennedy finished it off for a string of goals.
Nate Ludlow marked strongly and goaled in the third quarter, Marlon Micalizzi played well at full-back before swapping into the ruck, while Jag Tarrant was ferocious all day in defence, even when he was playing for the opposition.
Angus Donnan played a solid game and scored a goal in the last quarter along with Lily Dunham.
The coaches said they were really proud of the team and commended players on their sportsmanship and accuracy as a team.
Awards: P. Oliver, W. Hatfield, M. Sutton, W. Walsh, A. White, J. Tarrant, G. Allan.
Under 10 - Echuca Bombers
In the last game of the season proper, Echuca Bombers headed down the road to face Kyabram Red.
After a two-week lay-off, captain Tom Arthurson made an inspirational speech.
The first quarter was a tight affair with the ball in Kyabram’s forward line for more than half of the quarter, although Ky Rankin was super in defence and had great support from Max Gill and Harry Formosa.
It wasn’t until the last five minutes of the quarter that Arli Walker was able to get some forward entry for the Bombers from the centre, where Arthurson was able to mark but narrowly missed a shot for goal.
The second quarter started strongly for Echuca with Levi Weeks kicking the team's first goal, while Gill and Harry Emonson kept the ball moving forward from the centre.
Walker had a quarter to remember, with a big barrel goal just one of many for him, while Ned O’Neale got involved and took a great mark before his kick for goal went wayward for a behind.
However, with the ball held strongly in the Bombers’ forward line, Ged Canham had the crowd on its feet when he clenched a great mark.
Still dizzy from the height, Canham's kick just sailed to the right of the big post. Then, just before the half-time siren, Jaxon Key banana-kicked a great goal from the boundary which had his brother Fraze unusually lost for words.
Coach Canham shuffled the magnets around heading into the third quarter, and once Paul Arthurson sorted them back out the team hit the ground running.
Jobe Murphy in the ruck tapped brilliantly to Lachy Finn, who kicked long into the forward line where Gill snapped truly.
The forward line had plenty of it from the brilliant supply of Murphy and Bae Quayle, with the team stringing together great passages of play through handballs and loud voices.
With the final quarter in progress, the pressure from both sides was intense. Jimmy Kervin's tackling and voice was super, and from this the ball was driven into the forward line where Rankin squeezed through a goal.
Quayle, moved from the forward line onto the ball, drove it forward again, where Murphy marked strongly and slotted another goal for Echuca.
Awards: H. Emonson, M. Gill, A. Walker, K. Rankin, J. Murphy.
Under 10 - Echuca Green
After an enforced break, football was back on Friday night with Echuca Green playing Echuca Red at Victoria Park.
Led out by captain for the match Lucas Taranto, Echuca Green hit the ground running and made many forward attacks.
Logan O'Meara spent the first quarter in defence and repelled many forward attacks by always putting his body on the line.
Xavier Mai patrolled the midfield and relished taking on bigger opponents which he was rewarded for with multiple free kicks.
Continuing to move the ball forward, Echuca Green was rewarded when Billy Quirk ran on to the ball and kicked the team's first goal.
Green started the second quarter full of run and increased the pressure on their opponents. Quirk moved to defence and roamed the area to pick up kicks at will.
Max, playing only his second game, was thrown into the midfield and applied many tackles and kicks forward. O'Meara continued his great start to the game, following the ball and pressuring opponents to make mistakes, while Sellars hunted the ball in the backline.
The third quarter was arguably the best quarter Echuca Green has played this season. As Green moved the ball forward, Lochy Field gathered the ball and kicked a goal, while shortly after, Max was able to find Taj Maddox who kicked the team's second goal for the quarter.
Jobe Williams and Kai Rankins were moved to the midfield and laid numerous tackles to keep the ball moving forward, while Grace Napier played a great quarter in defence and made it hard for Echuca Red to score.
With Echuca Green determined to finish the game on a high note, Alfie Lloyd kept running well into the last quarter to push the ball forward.
Casey Kirk and Taranto kept the pressure on their opponents to make them earn their kicks, while Williams linked up well with Max, who kicked a long shot on goal.
Awards: B. Quirk, R. Sellars, A. Lloyd, T. Maddox, K. Rankins, Max.
Under 10 - Echuca Red
Returning after the latest lockdown, Echuca Red took on Echuca Green at Victoria Park on a crisp winter's Friday night.
Starting strongly, Echuca Red won the first bounce and quickly got the ball into their forward half, before both teams fought to take control over the ball.
However, Red's hard work managed to score the first goal for the game through Deegan Leo.
The second quarter was fast paced with Echuca Red working as a team to move the ball along the ground to open spaces and allowing Paddy Kenna, Jordan Moodie and Sam Henson all scoring goals.
Echuca Red spent a lot of time in the forward half in the third quarter, despite Echuca Green having a strong defence.
Red scored two more goals, kicked by Marlon Micalizzi and Harry Dunham.
Echuca Green came back strong in the final quarter, which meant Red's defence needed to work hard, but it managed to get the ball down to Kenna for his second goal and the final score for the night.
Awards: S. Henson, M. Micalizzi, N. Leo, T. Kenley.