LAKE Boga’s playing coach Anna Archie was certainly on the money when she predicted a close game between her side and Swan Hill.
The two strong sides drew 51-51 after a nail-biting Anzac round match, drawing a collective sigh from the big crowd which was on hand to witness a high calibre clash.
Swan Hill, a perennial finalist, took the early initiative with a fast start to lead 14-10 by quarter time.
Young gun Arlee Bennett spent the first half as Swan Hill’s GS, alongside experienced GA Ingrid Condely, before the pair swapped at half time. They collaborated exceptionally in the goal ring, with Bennett ending the game with an impressive 37 goals, and Condely with 14.
The Swans’ WA Kelsey McCoy was injured in the second quarter leading to a quick musical chairs of positions.
O’Sullivan, who had been in the centre, took on WA, while WD Karli McIntyre took on the C and then Scarlett Sheldrick came on to fill WD.
The second quarter was a ripper one for Lake Boga, with top scorer for the game Sarah Hepburn shooting 15 of her 41 goals.
The Magpies’ defenders GD Jemma Meehan, GK Felicity Robertson and WD Emma Peacock worked hard to control the Swans and kept them to seven goals to 18 for the term to give them the ascendancy.
The Swans were still trailing at the last change and swapped Bennett out into GA to have a run and moved Hayley Neuschafer into WD.
It worked wonders as they came back in the last term.
It was neck and neck in the dying minutes when Lake Boga’s centre Peacock had to come off injured to replaced by Archie.
But by the final whistle, the result was deadlocked at 51-all.
It was a great performance by Lake Boga, who proved themselves as being able to match it with the best teams in the competition.
Lake Boga’s sharp shooters in attack Sarah and Katie Hepburn finished with 41 and 10 goals respectively, while the Swans’ Bennett and Condely also remained accurate under pressure.
Lake Boga will play Nyah Nyah West United next weekend in what should be another tight match, while Swan Hill’s round four game against Tyntynder will take place on the Queen’s birthday weekend.
Other games in the league will include Balranald v Tooleybuc Manangatang, Cohuna Kangas and Koondrook Barham, and Mallee Eagles v Woorinen.
The Guardian predicts wins for Balranald and Mallee Eagles, with the remaining CMNFNL matches too close to call.
In the Golden Rivers League, Quambatook will play Hay, Ultima will play Macorna, Wandella will play Nullawil and Murrabit will play Moulamein.
In the Loddon Valley League, Marong will play Pyramid Hill, Calivil United will play Mitiamo, B/L Serpentine will play Bridgewater and Newbridge will play Inglewood.
Meanwhile in North Central, Boort will play Wycheproof-Narraport, Donald will play Charlton, St Arnaud will play Birchip-Watchem and SL-Nandaly will play Wedderburn.
