FOR the first 15 minutes of the Kyabram-Shepparton GVL clash on Saturday fans were starting to ponder the thought of it being a tight game.
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The unbeaten Bombers hadn’t scored at this stage and its grand final conqueror from last year was up and about with 1.3 on the scoreboard.
But that was it as far as Shepparton’s challenge went.
The Bombers planted the foot and left the Bears in their wake — to the tune of 107 points.
The visitors went goalless for a period of 50 minutes from halfway through the first term until the 10-minute mark of the third term and could salvage just four goals for the game — two from 50m penalties — while the Bombers piled on 20.15.
Tom Holman slotted the goal that got the Bombers up and running and with Kyle Mueller following with three consecutive majors, the Bombers took full control, which they maintained for the remainder of the game.
Mueller ended up with a bag of seven goals, five coming in the first half, and could have had 10 had he kicked straight after half time.
Kayne Pettifer slotted three and other multiple goal kickers were Josh Dillon and Tom Holman with two each.
Holman provided an extra aerial target when in attack in another top game.
Kyabram received winning drive from almost everywhere on the ground.
After an unusually quiet day by his standards the previous week Mick Mattingly was back to his best ball-getting form, continually freeing up the ball from the stoppages and hitting targets with deadly accuracy.
Ruckman Zac Norris also showed the improvement he has made this year by holding his own with Shepparton ruck ace and last year’s grand final match-winner Ash Holland in another pleasing display.
And onballers and midfielders in Holman, Patrick Wearden, Luke Morris, Axel Child, Tom Sheldon, Aaron Hayes Josh Dillon and Josh Pell all got involved.
Whenever Shepparton went forward the Kyabram defence led by Lochie Smith, Jason Morgan, Cade Mueller and Josh Pell were more than up to the challenge.
There wasn’t really a Kyabram passenger in the whitewash, with every player making an impact at some stage.
And pressure continues to build in trying to establish permancy in this unbeaten Kyabram side.
On Saturday Jordan Williams, Sam Sheldon, Reid Crow, Hayden Gemmill and Jakie Reeves were regulars who didn’t play and Brad Whitford lasted only a quarter due to a concussion.
The league has a general bye this Saturday, with Kyabram’s next assignment against Rochester at Kyabram on Sunday week.
My best for Kyabram were: Mick Mattingly, Kyle Mueller, Tom Holman, Zac Norris, Patrick Wearden, Luke Morris, Axel Child, Tom Sheldon.
third game for the season, surprising surprising sixth placed Shepparton to the tune of 39 points.
Kyabram had a couple of familiar faces back in their line-up with Michael (Molly) Dillon and Ben McDonell fronting up for the game and making an impact.
Early it was McDonell, Brenton Sheppard, Will Wild and Steve Drake in particular who got the Bombers mobile and enabled Kyabram to kick the first four goals of the match.
Sheppard turned back the clock with some classical forward work and two early goals while super veteran Ross Brown was also a fine contributor on a wing.
High-leaping ruckman Harry Browining-Briese ws dominant and onballer Liam Dillon, doubling up from the thirds, and midfielder Dan Gentle were also in the thick of the action all game.
■Kyabram thirds kicked off a good day for the club with a hard-earned and well-deserved 14-point win.
Kyabram had its nose in front from start to finish and answered every challenge from the Bears.
Skipper and rover Mitch Gugliotti supplied the main inspiration for the win with a hard-running, relentless four-quarter display.
Another of the emerging young Kyabram talents, Anthony Depasquale, displayed his silky skills again and capped a top game with two goals.
Aidan Robinson in the ruck was tireless and a power of strength all game while Brenton Brasier and Jayden Fitzgerald led the defence with fearless attacks on the ball.
Tom Burnett and the nippy Connor Hawes were other reliable sources of drive for the young Bombers while Elijah Gillie and Cameron Price also did a lot of telling work in the win.