In one of the biggest upsets of the Central Murray Football Netball League this year, Tyntynder kicked six goals to one in the last quarter to overrun the Cohuna Kangas by two points and record just their second win for the season.
Although the Kangas started the game with several outs, including Zac Poole and Rhys Bradley, their core unit of Ben Archard, Dylan Friedberger, Marcus Rogers, Rhys Thrum and Harrison Keely was still seen as a potent force against a side which only had one win.
But the Kangas didn’t count on the Bulldogs’ tenacity and drive towards the back end of the game, costing them dearly.
Instead of being intimidated, the Bulldogs took it to the Kangas, contesting strongly and causing turn-overs.
The Kangas led for most of the day and while the footy was scrappy, the Bulldogs were always in the contest, and by the final quarter, were only 27 points down, kicking to the scoring end.
Harrison Keely started strongly for the Kangas, but was in and out of the game and took up the rucking duties when Ben Archard did a knee in the final quarter.
Rhys Thrum gave it all for the four quarters and was clearly the Kangas best, while Dylan Friedberger was prominent in the first and third quarters, but went missing in the final quarter when the Bulldogs ran riot.
The final quarter was a total opposite to the first three quarters.
The Kangas who were in control, suddenly stopped contesting, allowing early goals to the Bulldogs through Brad Carroll and Luke Rundell-Gordon.
Against the run-of-play, Brad Griffiths steadied for the Kangas, but it was only a temporary relief as the Bulldogs again pushed forward.
Two further goals and another by Zac Denham, left the Bulldogs only four points behind with a minute remaining.
A quick transition out of the centre for the Bulldogs and a smart snap by Adam Thompson, saw them home with seconds to spare.
Kangas’ Kokwam Niki, Bailey Mitchell, Damien Boyer and Bradly Griffiths all had their moments, but failed to go on with their good work.
Only Kaleb O’Flaherty, Jackson Williams and Rhys Thrum were left to fight out the last quarter against the dominant Bulldogs.
For the Bulldogs, Glen Gascoyne shared the honours in the rucking duel against Archard, but was in control when Archard went off.
Tom Sala left nothing in the tank and was easily best on the ground.
Bryce Delemico, Cael Price, Stephen Pearce and Marcus Wattie all battled hard, continually harassing and setting up plays and making it tough for the Kangas to completely put them out of the contest.
