Tungamah’s Jack McQualter- Whyte and Rennie’s Hunter Lonergan tussle for the ball.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Tungamah travelled to Rennie last Thursday evening to take on the Hoppers as part of the local footy Easter feast and came away with a solid 72-point victory.
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With all of the local sides participating over the Easter weekend, the 2 PDFNL clubs kicked off the holiday break in front of a big crowd at the Rennie Recreation Reserve. Thanks to the Rennie Football Netball Club for putting on a great event.
With both teams coming off first round victories the scene was set for a great contest and the first quarter was fiercely competitive. Rennie brought the heat and put the Bears under serious pressure. While Tungamah had the majority of the possession and spent a lot of time in their forward half, the Hoppers pressure led to a lot of missed targets and sloppy ball use.
The end result was a 14-point quarter time lead to the Bears 3:3:21 to 1:1:7. It was more of the same in the 2nd term with Tungamah failing to get that connection between a dominant midfield and their forward line.
Josh Cheek, Sam Ferguson, Sean Johns and Jayden Arnold were finding plenty of the ball and sending it forward regularly. This was on the back of some dominant Ruck work from James Reilly, who was fantastic all night giving a great contest in the ruck and around the ground.
Half time Tungamah 8:5 to Rennie 2:4. The second half was more of the same, the Tungamah defence and midfield were on top of their opponents and the forward line was getting the job done although not convincingly.
The rain came during the last quarter and with the game losing most of its fizz due to the slippery conditions and the margin, the Bears were happy to take the 4 points and come out of the game with no real injury concerns.
Saunders was again the focal point up forward kicking 5 majors and was rested in the final term, coach Ferguson chimed in with 3 majors while pocket dynamo Cheek got 2.
Wally Thomson was fantastic at full back continually winning one on one contests against a dangerous opponent and providing plenty of drive.
The aforementioned midfield combination was solid and Dylan Robinson continued his fine start to the season with a classy display at both ends of the ground.
The Bears now look forward to another road trip next Saturday when they take on Picola United.
Yarrawonga Toyota Player of the Year: 3 votes W. Thomson, 2 votes S. Ferguson, 1 vote J. Reilly
Awards: Ricky D’s - Wally Thomson, One Zach - Dylan Robinson and Tungamah Hotel - James Reilly.
Reserves
Travis Hayes was named in the reserves best, getting this ball away under pressure.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Rennie 9.7.61 defeated Tungamah 7.8.50.
The lunch time legends took to the ground under lights at Rennie on Thursday night. The billion lumen lights were a far cry from the 6 candles the Bears train under at the bear pit. And the boys were struck by the lights like an Eastern grey roo on the Hume Freeway by the metaphorical Rennie Mac track.
The boys were wasteful early giving away more gifts than Opera Winfrey. Throughout the first quarter, well throughout the game really, the backline were under more pressure than John Dalys belt.
The Pres/Warrior continues to answer his own question of why he doesn’t get a run up forward, as he kept the Bears in the game with his defensive pressure. Ben Griffin looked like the hardest thing he was going to do all night was the drive down the highway, before settling back into his groove in the second quarter with his trademark iron fist.
At 5 goals down the new assistant coach, Hawk, must have felt like Jack Sparrow looking down at the shipwreck of a team he was dealing with. At quarter time the plea went out for the boys to show some ticker and lift, which was received well, as the boys went about clawing back the lead.
Gambi got given the run role and wore his opponent tighter than OJ’s glove.
In what will be looked back on as the TFNC equivalent of out: Cummins, in: Scott Boland, the Bears traded B Hayes for T Hayes.
Travis went about proving while he may be at the bottom of the family alphabetical order, when it comes to the stats list, he’s at the top end “build the man a statue”.
Nick Brockley single handled kept Tungamah in the game. His only weakness being he couldn’t use his centre clearances to kick it to himself when he rested deep forward.
Dan Clarke ensured the highlight reel had something to show this week, letting Gambi know he can go one better and bending one through from the impossible angle.
From the dreaded angle of point-blank range Saunders, shaking like Muhammad Ali, slotted one to level the scores. But with what looked like more than 3 of the Rennie reserves actually attending training, their fitness was too much, and the Hoppers ran away with the win.
Thirds
Jayden Arnold had plenty of the ball, booting down to the forwards.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Rennie 1.5.11 defeated by Tungamah 8.6.54.
The Bears made the trek out to Rennie for the Thursday night Easter clash. Cossy asked the boys to pick up where they left off last week after a good finish against the Swans.
A few late changes to the team due to injuries occurring to a couple of young players which created opportunities for some other under 14 players to step up and they didn’t disappoint.
Jaxon Raven, Jaydo Arnold, Tom Coffey and Mick Hughes all had plenty of the ball and gave the forwards opportunities to score.
Lach Wren and Jake Walker both kicked two goals each. Unfortunately, the game was stopped late in the third quarter due to a heavy head clash which left a Bear’s player unable to be moved from the ground until the arrival of the ambulance.
The match was called off due to time constraints with the Bears up by 7 goals. A fantastic team effort with all players contributing.
Awards: Coaches award- Jaxon Raven, Beaton family award - Jayden Arnold, McQualter/Whyte family award - Jack Costigan, Credit union award- Lenny Lonergan, Tungamah shop - Mick Hughes.
Fourths
Rennie 15.4.94 defeated Tungamah 4.6.30.
The Tungamah boys arrived at Rennie, keen to possibly get their first win for the season. On arriving they soon realised they had a big job ahead of them.
Rennie came out of the blocks firing with the first bounce going their way, kicking a massive goal from 45 metres out.
Rennie were just too strong for the Bears this time but credit to the boys who fought hard and never dropped their heads, displaying some great passages of football.
Best wishes to Sefa and Billy on a speedy recovery after a nasty collision in the last quarter.
Goals: TJ Ussher 2, Spencer Kirchen 1, Harry Wren 1
Best: B. Doyle, L. Wren, S. Bainikoro, J. Bamford, H. Wren, T. Ussher.
Awards: Xavier Chessells - Fish and Chips. TJ Ussher - $10 Arnold, Jett Bamford - $10 Seniors Award.
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