Balranald held on by a solitary point to record their third victory of the season over a very gallant Tyntynder combination on Saturday at Greenham Park.
The Dogs coach in Justin Ellis had a shot from the boundary after the final siren to win the game but unfortunately for Tyntynder his shot just missed giving the Roos the win by the barest of margins.
Both sides were missing a number of quality players. Tyntynder were without Marcus Wattie, Brodie Carroll and Reece Collins whilst Balranald were missing former coach and interleague star Cam Barrett.
The Dogs loss has put them under the pump in their quest for a finals berth in this years CMFNL finals series with them slipping to sixth on the ladder.
They now take on Swan Hill in a do or die contest next week which may determine each clubs destiny going forward.
The conditions were perfect for football and it would be the Roos who took control early with goals to Drew Lloyd and youngster Leyland Brougham.
The Dogs couldn’t manage a goal in this opening term, and they squandered many forward opportunities through poor skill errors.
Col Andrews was again a fine contributor along with Jack Salau who is playing a very consistent brand of football at the moment off halfback and through the midfield for the Roos.
Ellis was not happy with his players at quartertime with their poor disposal, and he told his charges that their skill inefficiency would potentially cost them victory if they didn’t respond.
The second term saw both sides kick four goals each as the ball flowed freely from end to end.
Tyntynder forward Brock Storer stamped his authority on the game with three second term goals in an impressive display taking full advantage of a height mismatch.
Ben Fuller was again a target up forward for the Roos finishing the day with four goals and through good work from Lloyd, Salau, Andrews and Harrison Soraggi the Roos were able to hold a two goal break at halftime.
The third term would be again a very even stanza of football.
Ellis lifted kicking two goals and he was becoming an offensive target for the Dogs onballers in Tom Salau, Luke McKay and Tom Gilbert.
Balranalds margin was cut back to eight points at the last change and both coaches implored their players for a big last term effort.
Unfortunately for Tyntynder ruckman Dylan Smillie had to leave the ground through injury missing most of the final quarter which in the scheme of things was probably the determining point of the game.
In a tense final term Tyntynder was able to find the big sticks on three occasions with Ellis booting his third.
Lloyd went up a level and Salau was in everything earning him best on ground status.
With seconds to play and the Roos were up by two points as Ellis marked deep in the pocket as the siren sounded, but as luck would have it, he missed from an impossible angle allowing the Roos faithful to celebrate after nervously awaiting the goal umpire’s adjudication.
L J Hooker Votes:
3 Votes: Jack Salau (BAL) 2 Votes: Drew Lloyd (BAL) 1 Vote: Brock Storer (TYN)
