Tyntynder wins nail biter to keep finals hopes alive

Tyntynder resurrected their finals chances with a heart-stopping five-point victory over Lake Boga in trying conditions on Saturday.

The visitors went into the game on the back of three straight losses and with nine of their regular senior line-up missing through injury, but outworked their more fancied rivals to record an 8.9 (57) to 7.10 (52) win.

Tyntynder had first use of the wind and took full advantage, opening the game with a three-goal to none first quarter – before the home side hit back to have the scores level at half time 3.5 (23) apiece. The Doggies again used the conditions after the main break, opening up a 13-point lead heading into the final term.

While Tyntynder’s commitment couldn’t have been questioned to this point, it was their effort in the opening 10 minutes of the last quarter where they won the game – with Jason Eagle kicking two goals against the wind that proved to be the difference. To their credit, Lake Boga never put the cue in the rack, scoring the final three goals of the match only to fall agonisingly short of victory.

While Tyntynder are widely regarded as a fast, outside running team – it was their strength around the contest and their propensity to outwork Lake Boga early that gave them the advantage. Not helping the home teams cause was their inability to hit targets – especially when kicking into the wind – as they constantly turned the ball over in dangerous positions.

Lake Boga did show at times just how damaging they can be with the ball, however those moments of brilliance were few and far between on a tough day for ball movement by foot. Tyntynder chose to run the ball, especially into the wind and looked for much of the afternoon like the better side as a result.

Elia Ware had a great battle in the ruck against Lake Boga’s Jacob Simpson, with Ware’s ability to impact the game with his class around the ground seeing him take the honours. Simpson was also magnificent, especially with his contested marking and his tap work around the ground, which constantly brought his midfielders into the game.

Eagle played a lone hand up forward for the Dogs, booting a game high four goals – while at the other end Angus Monfries, who played out the game despite being clearly hampered by a calf injury, was Lake Boga’s only multiple goal scorer with three majors.

Marcus Wattie was his usual creative self, playing a genuine captain’s game for his side, while Ben Hallam, Harry Simpson and Tom Bull were also damaging through the midfield and across half back. Patrick Crowe in defence was another solid contributor, as was Jackson Morris, who was sensational in the first half for his new club.

Lake Boga were well served by Daniel Dzufer, with both his marking ability and ball use causing constant headaches for the Bulldogs’ hierarchy, while Nathaniel Holmes-Brown, Matt Taverna, Taylor Johnstone and Dustin Burns could be well pleased with their own individual performances an what was an otherwise dirty day for the Magpies.

VOTES

3 – Elia Ware (Tyntynder)

2 – Marcus Wattie (Tyntynder)

1 – Daniel Dzufer (Lake Boga)

MATCH RESULTS

LAKE BOGA   0.3   3.5   4.6   7.10 (52)

TYNTYNDER   3.1   3.5   6.7   8.9 (57)

GOALS – LAKE BOGA – Angus Monfries 3, Joshua Cruse-Filo, Daniel Dzufer, Ryan Fox, Jarrod Taylor 1.

TYNTYNDER – Jason Eagle 4, Harry Simpson, Elia Ware, Marcus Wattie, Darcy Bibby 1.

BEST PLAYERS – LAKE BOGA – Daniel Dzufer, Matt Taverna, Jacob Simpson, Joshua Cruse-Filo, Dustin Burns, Taylor Johnstone.

TYNTYNDER – Elia Ware, Marcus Wattie, Brock Storer, Harry Simpson, Ben Hallam, Jackson Morris.