TYNTYNDER have kept their faint finals hopes alive after securing a 31-point win over Lake Boga on the weekend.
The Bulldogs led from start to finish to follow their upset win over Balranald seven days earlier with a 12.16 (88) to 8.9 (57) win over the Magpies.
Jayden Magro was the difference in attack, with the energetic forward booting four goals for the visitors, with seventh placed Tyntynder now sitting four points and percentage behind fifth placed Cohuna with two rounds to play.
Although pleased to get the four points, Tyntynder coach Jack O’Rourke was less than impressed with his team’s ability to move and transition the footy at times.
“It was a bit frustrating at times to be honest, we were both good and bad, even within the same quarter,” O’Rourke said.
“We simply butchered the footy at times and it was at a standard that wasn’t our best.
“Credit to (Lake) Boga, they have some good kids that had a real crack and they outworked us to be honest.
“They (Lake Boga) spread hard and take the game on, I’ve got a fair bit of respect for what they’re doing out there.
“They have some great young kids, in fact I reckon they have the best kids in the competition.”
The Bulldogs were without spearhead Jason Eagle, while dominant midfielder Roy George was also below his normally high standard.
After conceding four of the first five goals, the home side soon rallied after quarter time, breaking even in the second term.
The visitors then regained their composure after the main break, kicking three unanswered goals, before Lake Boga again responded with a five goal to three final quarter.
“Jayden Magro and Marcus Wattie were probably the difference I think, they were a little bit cleaner and sharper than them (Lake Boga) around the footy and they showed their class,” O’Rourke said.
“They got us out of trouble and set us up a couple of times, which was huge for us because our kicking was poor at times and we missed some really easy shots on goal.
“Jayden Lonergan was really strong around stoppages I felt and we had to put Patrick Blake to him to curb his influence, which worked to a degree.
“He was just hard and tough at the footy and I thought Koben Ryan was really good too, he’s got great hands and was really impressive.”
Also among the Bulldogs better players was ruckman Matthew Gillbee and veteran Mick Dedini, whose run and ball use off of back were again key factors in the result.
Brock Storer, Coady Gorringe and Justin Ellis were also among Tyntynder’s better players.
For the home side, Nelson Ibbs was strong with his ball use and was named as Lake Boga’s best player, along with Taylor Johnstone, Aaron Lonergan, David Gourdis, Dylan McCosh and Xavier Sherlock.
Tyntynder will be looking to keep their finals hopes alone with a strong victory over winless Koondrook-Barham this weekend, despite the Raiders best efforts, before finishing off the home-and-away season against Woorinen in a match likely to decide their finals future.
Lake Boga will fancy themselves capable of causing an upset when they travel to Manangatang to tackle the Saints this Saturday, before ending their home-and-away campaign at home against the Mallee Eagles.
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Lake Boga | 1.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 8.9 | 57 |
| Tyntynder | 4.4 | 6.9 | 9.12 | 12.16 | 88 |
VOTES
3 – Marcus Wattie (Tyntynder)
2 – Matt Gillbee (Tyntynder)
1 – Nelson Ibbs (Lake Boga)
