The Kyabram District Football League returned from its general bye on Saturday without too many surprises across the round nine slate.
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Lancaster won big against Violet Town, while Girgarre, Undera, and Stanhope all lost heavily to Avenel, Nagambie, and Murchison-Toolamba, respectively.
Meanwhile, Rushworth notched the most eye-catching result by winning at Tallygaroopna.
RESULTS
Round nine
Tallygaroopna 2.1, 5.5, 5.7, 7.9 (51) lt Rushworth 4.3, 5.6, 7.12, 10.15 (75)
Lancaster 6.4, 11.11, 19.13, 25.16 (166) d Violet Town 4.0, 5.0, 7.2, 8.4 (52)
Avenel 5.4, 6.8, 13.14, 18.16 (124) d Girgarre 4.1, 9.1, 10.2, 13.3 (81)
Undera 2.0, 2.2, 3.3, 4.5 (29) lt Nagambie 7.3, 12.9, 19.15, 28.20 (188)
Murchison-Toolamba 9.4, 12.8, 15.11, 22.14 (146) d Stanhope 2.0, 3.0, 5.2, 7.4 (46)
Longwood 2.1, 6.6, 8.6, 8.8 (56) lt Shepparton East 4.4, 5.7, 8.8, 14.11 (95)
Merrigum bye
Rushworth went into the general bye off a 161-point loss to Murchison, and the Tigers needed to perform much better if they were to beat possible finals entrant Tallygaroopna at Tallygaroopna Recreation Reserve.
The week off looked like it had done wonders for the visitors early on, Rushworth firing out of the blocks in the first quarter with four goals to the Redlegs’ two.
But the match evened up in the second term, Tally finding its feet by adding another three majors, while holding Rushy to just one, though the Tigers still held a 5.6 (36) to 5.5 (35) half-time advantage.
It was Rushworth’s turn to display a stubborn rearguard in the third quarter, Mark Wheatley’s side holding Tallygaroopna to only two behinds for the period and adding 2.6 at the other end, but the Tigers inaccuracy kept the hosts in the match.
Tally broke its dry spell in the fourth term by adding two goals to its total, but it wasn’t enough to make up the 17-point three-quarter time deficit, particularly with Rushworth booting three more majors to confirm a 10.15 (75) to 7.9 (51) win.
Ryan Beale led all Tiger’s goal-kickers with four, being aided by three from Nick Jonker, with both also on Rushy’s best players list alongside Ethan Arnold, Tighe Clarke, Liam Adlington and Brad Canny.
Wheatley’s side moved back up to ninth with the victory ahead of a tricky home fixture against Lancaster this weekend, the Tigers now also level on points with the eighth-placed Redlegs.
Lancaster vs Violet Town
Lancaster was undefeated through the season’s first eight rounds, but still sat second to Nagambie on percentage, with a visit from lowly Violet Town providing the opportunity for the Wombats to stack another win, but do so in style.
Though heavily favoured at Lancaster Recreation Reserve, Lancaster was tested in the first quarter as the visiting Towners kicked four goals, though the Wombats still won the period with six of their own.
The second term saw the hosts wrestle control of the match as they booted another five majors, while restricting Violet Town to only one goal, Lancaster taking a commanding 11.11 (77) to 5.0 (30) lead into half-time.
Lancaster would go on to produce its best in the third quarter with eight goals, before adding another six in the fourth to blow its lead beyond triple figures, winning 25.16 (166) to 8.4 (52).
The Wombats had four major goal-kickers on the day in Jamie Scapin (6), Zac Cerrone (5), Charlie Mclay (5), and Morrie Serra (4), with the former three also in their best alongside Billy Mclay, Declan Hallett and Adam Lovison.
Another win for Nagambie meant Lancaster stayed second despite the big win, though its percentage jumped up significantly ahead of this weekend’s aforementioned clash with Rushworth.
Avenel vs Girgarre
Girgarre travelled to Avenel having lost by 50 points to Longwood before the general bye, the Swans also coming off a heavy defeat to Nagambie and seeking a response.
Both sides came out with a point to prove at Avenel Recreation Reserve as nine goals were exchanged in the first quarter, the Kangaroos kicking four to Avenel’s five.
Girgarre upped the ante in the second term by booting five straight, also holding the Swans to only one major to take a 9.1 (55) to 6.8 (44) lead into half-time and be on track for a major win.
But the match flipped on its head after the main break, Avenel proving why it is a finals’ contender by laying on seven third-quarter goals, Girgarre only mustering 1.1 in response as it was suddenly down 30 points heading into the fourth.
The Kangaroos weren’t able to rediscover their second quarter form in the final term, as Avenel kicked clear with five more majors to three from Girgarre, the visitors going down 13.3 (81) to 18.16 (124).
Despite what was another heavy loss, Girgarre did have positives in three goals from Steven Phillips, who was also in the best players with Shaun Haffenden, Tyler Mcnamara, Ben Turpin, Joseph Jackson and Connor Moore.
The Kangaroos slipped to 10th due to Rushworth’s win, up against Undera this weekend as they aim to snap their current two-game losing streak.
Undera vs Nagambie
Undera faced league leader Nagambie at Undera Recreation Reserve, the Lions on a three-game losing streak, and a heavy underdog against the undefeated Lakers.
The hosts were immediately put on the back foot in the first period, Nagambie piling on seven goals, Undera only offering two, as it already trailed by 33 at quarter-time.
The Lions’ predicament only worsened in the second term, this time going goalless as the Lakers added another five majors to take a commanding 12.9 (81) to 2.2 (14) lead into half-time.
With the game having got away from Undera, it played for pride in the second half, but ruthless Nagambie didn’t let up, kicking another 16 goals across the third and fourth quarters to run out a dominant 28.20 (188) to 4.5 (29) winner.
The Lions’ four majors were split across four different players, while Alex Hywood, Matthew Perazzola, Daniel Gennaccaro, Riley Moon, Jack Doolan and Zach Langlands were named in their best.
Violet Town’s heavy loss to Lancaster meant Undera stayed above the Towners in 11th on the ladder by having a slightly better percentage, the Lions looking to improve their 1-7 record when they travel to Girgarre on Saturday.
Murchison-Toolamba vs Stanhope
Stanhope halted a two-game slide when it thrashed Undera before the general bye, but a true test would come with a trip to reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba in round nine.
The visitors have struggled against the competition’s best sides so far this season, and that trend looked set to continue in the first quarter at Murchison Recreation Reserve, the hosts kicking nine goals to two in a dominant start.
The Lions only added one more major to their total in the second term, while the Grasshoppers ran up their lead beyond 50 points, kicking another three goals to take a 12.8 (80) to 3.0 (18) lead into half-time.
Stanhope improved by kicking four majors across the third and fourth quarters, but it was powerless to resist the Murchison onslaught, the Hoppers booting 10 second-half goals to secure a triple-figure win, 22.14 (146) to 7.4 (46).
Lions player-coach Matt Butler had a solid performance in the heavy defeat, kicking three goals, with Taylor Butler, Nathan O’Reilly, Brett Smith, Stuart Trevena, Tyler Norman and Craig Emmett named in Stanhope’s best.
Butler’s side continues to sit in seventh place on the ladder, being the only side in the competition with an even 4-4 record, though is in danger of dropping a spot should it lose to eighth-placed Tallygaroopna this weekend.
In the only other game that took place in round nine, a six-goal to zero final quarter from Shepparton East saw it win away to Longwood by 39 points, the Eagles prevailing 14.11 (95) to 8.8 (56).