AN inaccurate Balranald cost themselves the chance of a home round 1 victory, going down to Tyntynder by 22 points at Greenham Park on Saturday.
The Roos had three more scoring shots but wasted their opportunities in front of goals, kicking 8.17.65 to 13.9.87 to leave the home crowd wondering what could have been.
Exacerbating Balranald’s woes was their loss of key forward Ben Fuller, who was a late withdrawal after straining his hamstring in the warm-up.
Fuller’s loss was certainly felt early on, with the home side unable to find a target inside the attacking 50 in the first quarter as they constantly let themselves down with their forward entries.
Tyntynder, on the other hand, had no such problems, with three of their four first-quarter goals coming as a result of marks inside their forward 50. It would be a theme that would continue as the game progressed – with the Doggies forwards scoring a remarkable seven goals from marks inside 50, while their opposition could manage just two.
Tyntynder’s outside speed, particularly through the midfield, was a constant threat throughout the four quarters, while their midfield outworked their opposition as they constantly ran the lines and moved the ball forward with speed.
Tyntynder’s Cameron Cook shadowed the highly rated Jordan Wilkins in an entertaining battle in the ruck. Despite Wilkins having the better of the duel around the stoppages, which often allowed his team to win the clearances, it was Cook’s work around the ground that set the two big men apart – with Cook a constant aerial thorn in Balranald’s side all afternoon.
With the game on the line – and Tyntynder 19 points up at the final change – the home side slammed through two quick goals thanks to Colin Andrews and Ryan Middlebrook, cutting the margin back to just eight points.
But as soon as the home side looked like they might charge home with a wet sail, the Dogs snatched back the advantage, answering with goals by Tom Gilbert and Brodie Bennett to snuff out the challenge.
Drew Lloyd showed he’d added a couple of extra strings to his bow during the off-season in a best-on-ground performance, with the youngster not only kicking two goals up forward, but proving a real handful around the stoppages and out of the middle when thrown on-ball.
Jydon Neagle also proved to be a handful for the visitors, especially when going forward late in the game, and will no doubt be better for the run, as will Middlebrook and Cam Barrett, who with Jack Salau worked hard in the defensive half of the ground for Balranald.
Tyntynder, on the other hand, will be well pleased with a strong four-quarter performance under new coach Josh Stone, with the Dogs having 22 players that all contributed and played their role. The Crowe brothers – Cayden and Patrick – were both dominant down back and intercepted many wayward Balranald attacks.
Marcus Wattie continued where he finished last season with another strong performance through the midfield, as did Stone, Isaiah Bull and Brodie Bennett. Ben Hallam and Solomon McKay also showed that they would be valuable contributors with their speed.
Tyntynder will return home this weekend, where they will have high hopes of going 2-0 to start the season when they host Tooleybuc-Manangatang. Balranald will have the unenviable task of trying to upset the Cohuna Kangas on the wide open spaces of the Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
VOTES
3 – Drew Lloyd (Balranald)
2 – Cayden Crowe (Tyntynder)
1 – Cameron Cook (Tyntynder)
