CENTRAL Murray Football Netball League (CMFNL) has finally returned to the winner’s list with a hard-fought 14-point win against nearby league North Central Football Netball League (NCFNL).
A strong first quarter allowed the home side to get the jump at the Swan Hill Recreation Reserve, but a persistent NCFNL would continually nip at the heels of CMFNL coach Troy Coates’ men.
In the end, the CMFNL would lead at every break, starving off any NCFNL comeback.
NCFNL did open the match with intent.
A tackle on Ryan Gillingham allowed Lachlan Gilbert to find Billy McInnes to begin proceedings.
It was a frenetic start by the away side as they continually forced their opponents into error.
As the quarter progressed, CMFNL settled and it was the class of coach Coates across half forward and Matthew Wade to enable skipper Ryan O’Sullivan to respond.
After goals to Jay Reynolds, Matt Iannucci and Coates himself, CMFNL closed out the quarter to engineer a three-goal lead.
This was in the face of unrelenting NCFNL pressure and coach Daniel Gash would lament this fact as the game went on.
For more on this story, check out Monday’s Guardian (May 23).
