Moama finds success in Murray league football semis

Moama got majority use of the ball in the opening quarter, slotting through a trio of maximums, while holding The Road to a goal to take a handy 14-point lead at the first turn.

As Congupna found its form, banking two goals in the second period, the Magpies faltered, failing to kick a major and settling for five behinds in the lead up to half-time.

Although Moama held a seven-point lead at the start of the third term, its lead dwindled throughout, with both sides kicking a pair of maximums, with The Road getting two minor scores to cut the lead to five with a quarter to play.

Again, the Magpies failed to impact the score much down the stretch, finding the outside posts four times as Congupna kicked away with three goals to steal the game at the death.

The 5.11 (41) to 8.2 (50) defeat sees Moama having to do things the hard way as The Road booked its ticket to the grand final.

Josh Smith was effective in front of goal for the Magpies, bagging four majors for his efforts, with Jett Lia being named his side’s best performer.

The table-toppers will travel to Nathalia Recreation Reserve on Saturday, September 13 for a preliminary final against Cobram, with a win giving the Magpies another crack against Congupna at the big dance.

Under-17

Moama’s under-17s had a better time of it in their second semi-final against Cobram, getting over the top of the Tigers to secure a place in the grand final.

Despite remaining goalless in the first quarter and the Tigers taking an early eight-point lead at quarter-time, the Magpies found their footing as the game progressed.

Cobram maintained control of the game in the second period, but, Moama got a goal under its belt to shave the deficit to a goal at the major break.

As the Tigers faltered with one behind in the third term, the Magpies pounced on the opportunity, slotting 2.4 to snatch a nine-point lead with the final frame looming.

In a close battle to the end, both sides had their best attacking performances down the stretch with three goals apiece, with Moama’s third quarter performance proving the difference 6.9 (45) to 5.7 (37).

Bodhi Teasdale-Dohnt led the way for the Magpies, kicking a goal and being named best-on for the match.

Moama will now await the winner of the preliminary final between Cobram and Mulwala, a rematch of last year’s grand final, for the 2025 decider.

Under-14

Moama’s under-14 unit made it two wins from two for the juniors, with the Magpies cruising past Nathalia in a do-or-die first semi-final.

Moama held the Purples to no score throughout the first period, but failed to find a goal itself, settling instead for nine behinds to hold a shaky lead early.

Nathalia (1.1) managed to hit the scoreboard in the second stanza as the Magpies corrected their wayward kicking, sending three straight through the middle.

With goals difficult to come by, the Purples got another in the third term with Moama also able to boot a major along with three minors, the difference now 23 with a frame to go.

While Nathalia had a good crack at a comeback, slotting a pair of goals down the stretch, it wasn’t enough to catch the high-flying Magpies, who added one last goal to the tally to take the game 5.12 (42) to 4.1 (25).

While Charlie Groves was named best-on, Ted Palmer (2) was the only Moama player with more than one goal to his name.

Moama now has Deniliquin in its sights for the preliminary final after it was beat down by a forceful Cobram in the other semi-final.