The Murray Bombers — neck and neck with Shepparton atop the ladder — were heavily favoured going into the clash against the winless Bulldogs and the visitors made their presence felt from the off.
Echuca raced out to a 40-point quarter-time lead, booting six unanswered goals during the first period as it held Tatura to one behind.
Defensive solidity has been key to Echuca’s wins this season and it was a feature again in the second quarter, as the home side was kept goalless for the entire first half.
Tatura added only three more behinds in the term as the visitors booted three more majors, Echuca’s offensive output slowing, but the match as a contest effectively over as it led 9.10 (64) to 0.4 (4) at half-time.
With the Murray Bombers only second to the Bears on the ladder via percentage, winning by big margins is important, and Echuca doubled down with its dominance in the second half.
Tatura was kept scoreless in the third quarter as Echuca kicked 6.5, the same total it booted in the first term.
In the fourth, the host finally kicked its first major, though the Murray Bombers kept their foot on the gas, adding another four goals and running out a 19.17 (131) to 1.6 (12) winner.
While Echuca was cruising to another win, so too were the Bears, who defeated Shepparton United by 32 points to still hold a solid percentage advantage over the Murray Bombers.
Following the league-wide break this weekend for interleague, Echuca and Shepparton will have tricky clashes against in-form sides, the Murray Bombers facing Rochester while the Bears take on Mooroopna.
The Game
Echuca: 6.5, 9.10, 15.15, 19.17 (131)
Tatura: 0.1, 0.4, 0.4, 1.6 (12)
Goals
Echuca: Hugh Byrne 4, Luke Edwards 4, Darby Jones 3, Malik Gordon 2, Liam Gronow 2, Baxter Slater 2, Jackson Stewart, Mitchell Wales
Tatura: Liam Scopelliti
Best
Echuca: Hugh Byrne, Darby Jones, Cameron Valentine, Jack Evans, Hudson Kellett
Tatura: Will Russell, Tom Sullivan, Finn Radley, Ryan Young, Chris Ryan
6°C