THE Cohuna Kangas have overcome a slow start to record their third win of the season, defeating Lake Boga by 51 points at the weekend.
After kicking into the breeze in the opening term, the Kangas then dominated the contest after quarter-time, booting 11 goals and restricting the Magpies to just two majors across the final three quarters on their way to recording a comfortable 11.16 (82) to 4.7 (31) win.
It was Cohuna’s third win of the season and proved to be a welcome return to the winners’ circle after competitive losses to the top two teams, Kerang and NNW United, in consecutive matches essentially ruled them out of finals contention.
It was the Kangas’ experienced heads that proved the difference for the visitors, with Jack Geary dominating through the midfield and across half-back on his way to a best-on-ground display, with Joel Helman also leading the way with a game-high three goals.
But it was his team’s ability to win the ball on the inside which impressed Cohuna coach Geary the most, with the Kangas’ leader also impressed with his opponents’ ability to run and spread from the contest.
“I felt we controlled the play, but with their outside run and speed, even if we controlled possession for five minutes or more and moved the ball well, whenever we’d turn it over or they would intercept, with their explosive speed they’d be out the back and gone,” Geary said.
“We adjusted a few things at quarter-time and had the breeze in the second quarter and we were lucky enough to capitalise with a few goals early.
“(Lake) Boga are a very good side. They are young and fast and hurt us on the spread a few times, but we were able to nullify that a little bit and stunt their scoring and were lucky enough to come away with the win.
“They (Lake Boga) battled away and had plenty of the ball.
“They’re a very young team and if they stay together will be a very good team in a couple of years, but I felt our experienced players and bigger bodies around the contest just gave us a bit more of an advantage.
“(Joel) Helman and (Jarrod) Findlay both played well.
“Their ruckman battled hard but ‘Ando’ (Chris Anderson) was good in the ruck. We put him forward and he kicked a couple of goals as well, which was good to see also.
“We didn’t have too many weak links across the field and in the end that was probably the difference between winning and losing.”
Also among Cohuna’s better players was Sam McGlone, who produced one of his best games of the season, and Jack Donat, Jackson Williams and Xavier Mitchell, who were able to have an impact on the outside with their speed and ability to break the lines.
Lake Boga were well served by their younger brigade, with Xavier Sherlock, Koben Ryan, Rory Colville and Fraser Colville all among the Magpies’ better players, along with Zac Warne and Taylor Johnstone.
The Magpies will face one of the toughest challenges in the Central Murray this Saturday – beating Kerang at Riverside Park – while Cohuna will host a Balranald outfit who will be desperate to return to the winners’ list, with Geary set to have his team primed and ready when the Roos come to town.
“We said to the boys after Saturday’s game that we’ve had three wins now, but we haven’t had a big scalp yet and this will be the perfect opportunity to do just that,” Geary said.
“It would be good to beat a team that’s ahead of us and instil some confidence into the team heading into the back half of the season.”
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| LAKE BOGA | 2.1 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 31 |
| COHUNA KANGAS | 0.5 | 4.10 | 6.11 | 11.16 | 82 |
VOTES
3 – Jack Geary (Cohuna)
2 – Jack Donat (Cohuna)
1 – Christopher Anderson (Cohuna)
