THE district’s Central Murray Football Netball League sides all recorded wins at the weekend.
The Cohuna Kangas, Kerang, Koondrook/Barham and the Mallee Eagles all recorded vital victories in games critical to the finals or premiership chances of each club.
In the match of the round at Woorinen, an ambulance had to be called onto the field of play to tend to Tigers player Corey Kelly – resulting in the match ending in the final minute of the third quarter.
Kerang held a 21-point lead at the point of the match, and with the game suspended for more than 30 minutes, the points went the five-time defending premiers’ way in the top of the table clash.
The Blues kept the Tigers scoreless in the opening quarter in a low-scoring start to the match – with the first of Scott Lockwood’s three goals of the game coming just before the quarter time siren.
Kerang went into the main break with a 24-point lead, which the Tigers were able to keep in the match up to the point of Kelly’s injury.
Luke Cotchett also kicked three goals for the Blues, with Marty Kelly and Troy Davis best on ground for the competition leaders.
The loss saw the Tigers fall to third on the ladder after the Mallee Eagles trounced Tyntynder by 139 points.
Caine Hillier (eight goals) and Zak Saad (four goals) set up the Eagles’ ninth consecutive win of the season thanks to the visitors kicking 10 goals in the first term.
The Eagles are one win behind the Blues, but three victories ahead of fourth-placed Nyah-Nyah West United, which recorded a 47-point win against Swan Hill.
The Swans remain in the top five thanks to percentage, with the Kangas and Koondrook/Barham sixth and seventh respectively.
The Kangas climbed back up the ladder thanks to a 65-point win against Balranald – the club’s first win since late April.
In an all-round performance in front of goal, the Kangas fought back from a six-point quarter time deficit to lead by 27 points at the main break.
The visitors increased their advantage to 41 points with one quarter to play, before booting five of the final six goals of the match.
Jack Dehne, Sam Dehne and coach, Scott Beattie each finished with three goals for the Kangas.
In the final match of the round, Koondrook/Barham kept its finals hopes alive with a 60-point win against Tooleybuc/Manangatang.
Led by 10 goals from Dean Limbach, the Raiders took control of the game in the second half, kicking seven goals to two in the third quarter and four goals to one in the final term.
