Tenacious Eagles can’t chase down Rumbalara

By Matthew Kappos

Jun 1, 2025

Brady Simpson was a goal-kicker and one of United’s best against Rumba.

For a second week in a row, Echuca United has endured a battler’s defeat in Murray Football League, the seniors defeated by nine at Echuca South Recreation Reserve.

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The contest was neck and neck throughout, but a burst of fourth-quarter goals from Rumba couldn’t be answered by the Eagles in the dying minutes.

United will look back on the first quarter as a missed opportunity to build a lead.

The sides went into the first break in lockstep at 12 points apiece, but while Rumbalara’s scorecard read 2.0, the Eagles had sprayed seven scoring efforts towards the sticks but only yielded 1.6.

United made the early running in the second period to get out by 13 points, but Rumba responded in kind with an identical scoreline to again level proceedings at the half, both sides on 25.

A similarly tense third term saw a late Rumbalara goal give the visitor a one-point lead at the final break.

The Eagles briefly snatched the lead at the start of the fourth, but Rumba fired through three straight majors to open a significant advantage and, while Echuca United would kick two of the final three majors of the game, it wasn’t enough to chase down the lead.

The final score was Echuca United 10.10 (70) defeated by Rumbalara 12.7 (79).

Hunter Beveridge and Ryan Stobaus had their shooting boots on for the Eagles, kicking three goals apiece, while Rumbalara relied on Kian Wise (5) for its scoring production.

Although it is mired in a six-game losing slide, Echuca United (2-6) has been within striking distance in most of those games.

The Eagles will be up for the second Three Jacks Trophy clash of 2025 this weekend, Moama (7-1) to host the return fixture.