Koondrook-Barham hold on for victory

KOONDROOK-Barham secured their second win of the season – and moved off the bottom of the ladder – with a heart-stopping seven-point win at home over a fast-finishing Tooleybuc-Manangatang on Saturday.

The River Raiders jumped out of the blocks with seven goals to two in the first half, opening up a 33-point lead at the main break and completely dominating the first hour of the game. The Saints then slowly started to shift the game to their terms in the third quarter, kicking three goals to one and pulling the margin back to a chaseable 20 points at the final change.

With the game still up for grabs, both teams threw everything at each other, with Tooleybuc-Manangatang attacking the game and driving the ball deep inside their forward 50 at every opportunity, while a young and tiring Koondrook-Barham clung desperately to their lead.

In the end, four last-quarter goals weren’t enough to get the Saints over the line, with the Raiders holding firm late in the game to record a victory.

Jordan Iudica was again in everything for Koondrook-Barham, kicking four goals from the midfield and dominating around the stoppages in a clear best-on-ground performance, while Max Baldissera and Colin McVeigh were the only other multiple goal scorers for the home side.

Brayden Pitcher and Shylo Smith in the midfield tried hard for Tooleybuc-Manangatang, with both players kicking two goals each to be the Saints’ only multiple goalkickers.

Gareth Grant worked hard all day for the visitors, as did Alex Powell in the ruck, with the Tooleybuc-Manangatang big man continuing his sensational 2022 season. For the home side, Baldissera was a consistent contributor in a fine four- quarter performance, as were midfielders Lucas Iudica, Jack Shannon, Jack Thrum and Patrick Goble.

Tooleybuc-Manangatang will face a resurgent Swan Hill this Saturday in the penultimate round of the season, while Koondrook-Barham will enjoy the week off before travelling to Lalbert to take on the Mallee Eagles in their last game of the season.

VOTES

3 Votes Jordan Iudica (Koondrook-Barham)

2 Votes Gareth Grant (Tooleybuc-Manangatang

1 Votes Max Baldissera (Koondrook-Barham)

MATCH RESULTS

KOONDROOK-BARHAM   4.3   7.4   8.6   10.7.67

TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG   1.1   2.1   5.4   9.6.60

GOALS – KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Jordan Iudica 4, Max Baldissera, Colin McVeigh 2, Jacob Barrington, Benjamin Miller 1.

TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG – Brayden Pitcher, Shylo Smith 2, Mitch Ferrie, Lachlan Gleeson, Gareth Grant, Alex Powell, Ryan Regan 1.

BEST – KOONDROOK-BARHAM – Max Baldissera, Jordan Iudica, Lucas Iudica, Jack Thrum, Patrick Goble, Jack Shannon.

TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG – Gareth Grant, Brayden Pitcher, Alex Powell, Shane Foley, Johnathan Marsden, Ryan Regan.