TOOLEYBUC-Manangatang gave a major scare at the weekend, despite missing several key players, before Balranald eventually secured hard-fought 17-point win.
It was a clash between teams with vastly different records, with the Saints having just one win on the board and the Roos only one loss.
Balranald got off to an impressive start, kicking five goals in the first quarter and and imposing relentless pressure on Tooleybuc-Manangatang, who were held to just two points, making careless errors and rushing their opportunities.
The first term ultimately became the defining factor splitting the sides, as the home side outperformed the visitors in every subsequent quarter.
The Saints found their footing, gaining control of the match and starting to look dangerous – with their ball movement fluid and efficient, despite encountering strong resistance from a solid defensive line.
Tooleybuc-Manangatang kicked four goals in the second quarter, while the Roos kicked just three points to hold a slim 12-point lead heading into the half-time break.
Both teams squandered scoring opportunities in the third quarter, with strong defensive performances from both sides limiting any further breakthroughs and slowing the game down, with both teams scoring just a solitary goal each.
At three-quarter time, Tooleybuc-Manangatang coach Dean Helmers called on his players to believe in themselves and take a risk.
They took the sentiment to heart, with Connor McDonald kicking a goal in the early minutes, bringing them within seven points.
Balranald’s Harrison Soraggi replied with a much-needed goal to maintain their advantage, with Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s Tom Carland receiving a controversial yellow card soon after.
To make matters worse, the Saints then lost Timothy Babui to a knee injury, shifting the momentum to the Roos.
Seth Connell sealed victory with a goal a few minutes later, ending any hopes of a come-from-behind win.
Tooleybuc-Manangatang coach Dean Helmers was pleased with his team’s performance, after overcoming the late withdrawal of two key players.
“They’re a lot faster than us, but we were definitely the better side for three quarters in my opinion,” Helmers said.
Balranald coach Jydon Neagle was pleased with the win, but said his team needed to work on their mindset.
“We have to figure out a way to keep going for four quarters,” Neagle said.
FINAL SIREN
| TOOLEYBUC-MANANG | 0.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.12 | 48 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BALRANALD | 6.2 | 6.5 | 7.8 | 9.11 | 65 |
VOTES
3 – Connor McDonald (Tooleybuc-Manangatang)
2 – Harrison Soraggi (Balranald)
1 – Ryan Middlebrook (Balranald)
