Goals: Numurkah: S. Miller 3, K. O’ Dwyer 2, W. Newman 2, T. Craven 1, T. Down 1, H. Verhoeven 1, J. Holmes 1.
Mulwala: J. Sutherland 6, J. Gash 3, W. Thomson 1, C. McKenna 1, C. Magher 1, S. Robinson 1, T. Dow 1, B. Wilson 1
Best: Numurkah: K. O’ Dwyer, M. Smyth, F. Penberthy, J. Holmes, S. Miller, H. Wyatt.
Mulwala: L. Rouel, J. Sutherland, J. Gash, B. Butts, B. Wilson, J. Tonna.
With close to a dozen regular senior players out due to illness and coming up against a consistent Numurkah team on their large home ground, Saturday's match was always going to be a close contest.
A great first quarter by the ball magnet Brad Wilson and ever reliable Bodhi Butts saw Mulwala winning plenty of the footy and direct kicking into and from the forwards had Mulwala out to an early lead at quarter time.
Numurkah tightened up in the second quarter and the backline led by Lach Rouel and assisted by Joey Bland were coming under intense pressure.
Owen Conway was winning the ruck contests giving the midfield good options and Josh Tonna playing forward was providing a great marking target.
Jackson Gash was sublime across the whole ground and his long kicking was opening the game up on many occasions.
The second half became an arm wrestle and each time Numurkah challenged Mulwala had the answers with Gashy kicking some timely goals and Jack Sutherland’s accuracy up forward proving the difference in the end.
Reserves
Numurkah 3.4.22 defeated by Mulwala 12.10.82.
The Reserves had to call on some of the older champions of the game to get them through what should have been an easy victory against a struggling Numurkah team.
A slow first half was ideal for Chris O’Neill to showcase his craft as he was putting Numurkah to the sword across the midfield and moving forward.
Lach Wood was in the unusual position of being in the forward line and wasn’t in any frame of mind to handball as he finally found the big sticks to get Mulwala moving.
Andy Miller and Angus Heslin were using their height out of the ruck contests and around the ground to their advantage and the speed of Kyle Abikhair and Dillon Kirchen was starting to open up the game on the large Numurkah ground.
The second half saw Mulwala take full control and run away with the game as Isaac Pitches, Cam Ling and Henry Lonergan repelled the many Numurkah advances and when Damien Mohr kicked goal of the year in the last it was game over.
Goals: A. Frauenfelder 3, A. Maskell-Dunstan 3, L. Wood 2, C. O’Neill 2, D. Kirchen 1, D. Mohr 1.
Best: C. O’Neill, I. Pitches, A. Miller, A. Heslin, K. Abikhair, H. Lonergan.
Thirds
Numurkah 3.12.30 defeated by Mulwala 7.7.49.
The Thirds were off to a flying start early in their match as their enthusiasm was matched by their endeavour.
Michael Paine set the scene early in the game with his hard ball gets and the midfield led by Dillon Kirchen and Jett Peters were using their skills and speed to set up many Mulwala forward thrusts. Harry Barker was again brilliant in the backline along with Josh Eder who was playing his 100th game in Mulwala colors. Numurkah came out a different team after half time and were pressing forward regularly but the backline was continually applying pressure causing their many mistakes in front of goal.
Levi Saunders and Memphis Bramich were working well and Riley Mitchell was providing a strong forward option allowing the midfielders to float forward and capitalize.
A great team effort all day saw the boys notch up a well deserved win and the exuberance singing the club song afterwards was evident for all to see.
Goals: M. Bramich 2, D. Kirchen 2, J. Peters 1, J. Brennan 1, R. Mitchell 1.
Best: D. Kirchen, J. Peters, H. Barker, M. Bramich, L. Saunders, M. Paine.
Fourths
Numurkah 1.0.6 defeated by Mulwala 16.16.112.
The undefeated Fourths were coming up against a much younger Numurkah team this week and coach Kreeck took the opportunity to rest a few of the senior players.
This however allowed some of the younger players a chance to get some quality game time and they didn’t disappoint.
The Focus Gym team led by Luke Abikhair, Charlie Drake and Jack Burns were showing their strength in the forward line with all the boys giving off a few don’t argues, selling some candy and slotting some big goals.
The crowd was up and about when Tommy Taylor slotted through a $300 goal that Dad Nick had put on the table with the emotions difficult to contain.
Jace Gove was winning plenty of the footy and Archer Kirchen was using his skills across the half forward line to creative effect.
Brody Krywyn, Parker Lappin and Rhys Burgess were all capitalizing around the ground making it difficult for Numurkah to advance past the centre square.
A great effort by the boys who went and played for Numurkah at times throughout the game in particularly Ryder Leith who was clearly in the best for Numurkah and showed his older brothers who the boss of the yard is.
Goals: S. Sneddon 2, J. Sneddon 2, J. Burns 2, O. Watson 2, A. Saunders 2, L. Abikhair 2, C. Drake 2, B. Sissons 1, T. Taylor 1.
Best: L. Abikhair, J. Burns, A. Saunders, C. Drake, A. Kirchen, T. Taylor.
Back at the Lions Den this week hosting Rumbalara so get down and be amongst the Pride of Lions.
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