The two rivals entered their latest meeting buoyed by positive recent performances, as the Eagles had beaten reigning premier Cobram last time out while the Magpies were on a three-game win streak.
The first quarter was an arm-wrestle, Moama kicking the game’s opening goal before Echuca United put its first on the board, but that was all as both sides went into the first change with 1.2 next to their name.
The pattern continued in the second term, as for every Moama major there was one for Echuca United, the sides this time exchanging two each and again posting similar scores as the Eagles led 3.5 (23) to 3.4 (22) at half-time.
This clash was certainly not an entertaining one for the neutral, as goals continued to be few and far between in the third quarter.
The two sides again traded one each, with a few more behinds for Moama having it up by two entering the fourth.
Given the rarity of goalmouth action, only a small scoring edge would be enough for either side to claim victory in the final term.
A familiar trend started the quarter, Moama pushing its lead out to 10 points before the Eagles cut it back to four midway through the period.
But the Magpies would kick their sixth major to reinstate the margin, Echuca United only mustering two more behinds for the match as Moama held on for a scrappy, but important victory, 6.11 (47) to 5.8 (38).
A fourth consecutive success for Shannon Keam’s side pushed it above Tongala and into sixth on the ladder, now only a win off second-placed Nathalia.
Meanwhile, Echuca United fell two wins behind its rival and now has a 3-6 record after nine matches, sitting eighth.
The Eagles have a bye in round 11 before facing a challenging fixture away to unbeaten league leader Congupna on June 20.
Meanwhile, with all of the wins from its current streak coming against the competition’s bottom four, Moama’s form will be tested when it hosts third-placed Numurkah next.
Moama also claimed the Three Jacks Trophy again due to having the best success across all football-netball grades on Saturday, with its only losses coming in under-14 football and C-grade netball.
The Game
Echuca United: 1.2, 3.5, 4.6, 5.8 (38)
Moama: 1.2, 3.4, 4.8, 6.11 (47)
Goals
Echuca United: Elijah Bruns, Liam Gundry, Matthew Lias, Angus McMahon, Jack Reiter
Moama: Khy Stovell 2, Jye Warren 2, Blake Azzopardi, Ned Osborne
Best
Echuca United: Callum Parsons, Hunter Beveridge, Brady Simpson, Bailey Sawyer, Mitchell Boyd, Matthew Lias
Moama: Zac Stovell, Blake Azzopardi, Tobias Thoolen, Jake Ellery, Jye Warren, Rhys Drennan