Cam Nye was pivotal to the Mulwala reserves booking their place in the MFNL 2023 Grand Final with a 32-point victory over Congupna. The two teams also faced off in the seniors with the result reversed as the Lions went into quarter time 6 goals up to lose the match by 37 points. The reserves have the week off before the grand final to be held at Moama on September 16 while the seniors have a second chance this Saturday against Moama at Cobram. Photo - Andrea Sissons.
Photo by
Andrea Sissons
Mulwala: 7.0, 10.5, 10.8, 11.8.74.
Congupna: 1.0, 6.2, 11.7, 17.9.111.
Goals: Mulwala: J. Gash 3, L. Taylor 2, Z. Scott 1, J. Sutherland 1, Z. Cuppins 1, R. Middleton 1, A. Rouel 1, T. Dow 1.
Congupna: J. Trewin 6, e. cavallaro 5, D. Schaper 3, S. Buxton 1, J. Norman 1, B. Squire 1.
Best: Mulwala: J. Gash, Z. Cuppins, J. Wilson, Z. Scott, J. Meade, O. Elliott.
Congupna: B. Squire, J. Trewin, D. Schaper, S. Buxton, T. Mifka, C. Allen.
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The senior Lions came out like a bull at a gate in the first quarter in the second semifinal against Congupna however unfortunately things slowed from there with Congupna booting 11 goals in the second half to claim the first place in the 2023 MFNL Grand Final.
Through the strong midfield work of Zach Cuppins and Oscar Elliott, and the silky skills of Jackson Gash in the forward line, the Lions were able to control the game kicking 7 unanswered goals to take a handy lead into quarter time.
Congupna fought back hard in the second quarter and began to assert themselves in the midfield as Mulwala’s backline came under huge pressure held up by James Wilson and Lach Rouel.
Jackson Gash showed off his silky skills in the forward line in the first quarter of the seniors. Photo – Andrea Sissons.
Photo by
Andrea Sissons
The second half was controlled by Congupna as Mulwala struggled to get their hands on the footy as the opposition ran in droves through the midfield moving forward.
With this week’s Preliminary Final a replay of the corresponding game last year in which the Lions once again opened the floodgates in the first quarter to put Moama to bed by quarter time, the Lions will be hoping to replicate that form and book their place in the big dance to fight for back to back premierships.
Moama coach Sam Sheldon is understandably pleased to have booked a preliminary final berth against Mulwala, a rematch from last season saying everyone in Moama is looking forward to the challenge.
“We had this opportunity against them last year and they tore us a new one, so we’ve been looking for this for probably 12 months or the best part of,” Sheldon said.
Harley Middleton fights off a Congupna opponent to get the ball out of danger. Photo – Andrea Sissons.
Photo by
Andrea Sissons
“We’ve watched Mulwala pretty closely. We’ll put a bit of a plan together to get after them.”
Mulwala’s strong season has allowed them the second chance at a spot in the Grand Final and they will be looking to get back to the type of football that has put them in such a position this Saturday against Moama at Cobram.
Reserves
Mulwala 15.8.98 def Congupna 10.6.66.
The Reserves showed early why they finished on top of the ladder as their run and carry through the midfield by the likes of Flynn Fletcher, Joseph Bland and Jett Peters was electrifying.
Cam Nye was in great touch early in the forward line and capitalized on the midfield work as Mulwala piled on the goals in the first quarter.
Isaac Pitches looks to take a run on the wide Nathalia ground on the reserves way to a 32 point win. Photo – Andrea Sissons.
Photo by
Andrea Sissons
Angus Heslin was playing on top of the ground and Thomas Wilson was proving too slick for Congupna as they gathered possessions at will moving the ball directly into the Mul forward line where the skills of Jyda House and Cam were on show proving too clever for the Congupna defenders.
Coach Lach Orr implored his team to show no mercy going into the second half and the entire team responded with a fantastic team effort that has earned the boys a spot in the Grand Final in two weeks and the chance of premiership glory.
Goals: C. Nye 5, J. House 4, S. Robinson 2, J. Peters 1, J. Ednie 1, A. Heslin 1, J. Bland 1.
Best: A. Heslin, J. House, T. Wilson, N. Beasley, F. Fletcher, C. Nye.
Thirds
Cobram 11.7.73 def Mulwala 1.5.11.
The Thirds were outmatched early by their Cobram counterparts whose slick ball movement had the Mul boys flat footed.
Several missed shots at goal in the first half would cost Mulwala as they lacked the scoreboard pressure to keep them in touch.
Thirds’ Brock Johnson contests this ruck tap against a Cobram opponent. Photo – Andrea Sissons.
Photo by
Andrea Sissons
Leading goalkicker Jaxen Wheeler kicked the first goal of the second half and the boys were looking a lot more committed early but Cobram turned the pressure up and continued to show why they were undefeated all year.
Fortunately, the Mulwala team worked hard during the year to earn the double chance and will be looking to make amends on Saturday when they take on Moama.
Goals: J. Wheeler 1.
Best: R. Mitchell, B. Johnson, B. Donovan, J. Sneddon, O. Watson, J. Eder.
Fourths
Mulwala 4.10.34 def by Deniliquin Rams 6.1.37.
After a brilliant season where the young cubs were outsized for large portions of the season, their year has come to an end in a thrilling match.
With so many young 10 and 11-year-old kids in the team Deniliquin had a considerable size advantage over the Mul boys.
The usual Mulwala tenacity was shown throughout the match as Van, Axel and Archie showed great leadership throughout as they lifted their younger teammates to greater heights.
A game of missed opportunities, however, would see the boys have double the number of shots on goal than Deni but through their accurate kicking Deni would finish in front on the scoreboard.
A fantastic season that the entire team should be proud of and the representation of so many younger cubs will see Mulwala flourish in the many years to come.
Goals: V. Kreeck 3, A. Saunders 1.
Best: V. Kreeck, A. Saunders, S. Sneddon, A. Purtle, M. Leith, L. Purtle.
A Grade fights on another day
A Grade
Mulwala 47 def Moama 33.
Amity Drayton, pictured recently, fought hard for A Grade who dominated all day to book their place in this week’s preliminary final.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
With seasons on the line for both teams the first quarter was a predictably intense affair, as both sides put immense pressure on the ball.
Moama got under way with the first score, and it was goal for goal from thereon as neither team was able to fully take a hold of the contest.
Emma-Jane Bond was on fire as goal shooter for Mulwala, turning the game late in the quarter to hand the Lions the lead 11-10 as the minutes counted down, before the siren went at 12-10.
The ascendancy Mulwala enjoyed in the final moments of the last translated into the second term, as it blew the game wide open.
It was total domination all over the court as the pressure and intensity stepped up a notch, with the Lions draining nine goals on the trot to open up an 11-goal lead.
Mulwala entered the half-time break with a 26-14 advantage and looking well and truly in control.
The Mulwala midcourters were putting so much speed on the ball it was impossible for Moama to defend the entries into the semi-circle and the Lions threatened to run away with the side in the third, opening up a 15-goal lead midway through the quarter.
Moama’s goalies battled well to help the Pies draw back within 11 at one stage, but the Lions held strong to enter the final term with a 12-goal advantage and run out the match 14 goal victors.
Finals matches
Preliminary final at Cobram - Saturday, September 9
