AN undermanned Kerang continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 70-point win over Tooleybuc-Manangatang on Saturday.
The 10th-placed Saints put in a strong performance against the league’s premiership favourites – helped by the Blues missing a number of key players through injury and illness, with joint coach Troy Coates, Marty Kelly, Ryan Gillingham, Sam Heavyside, Troy Davis, Nick Stagg and Bronson Booth all missing from their line-up.
Despite having almost half of their starting 18 on the sidelines, Kerang still had enough firepower through the middle and up forward to record a 18.18.126 to 8.8.56 victory, with leading forward Michael Runciman booting his second five goal haul in a row.
A dominant first 30 minutes saw the visitors put eight majors on the board, before Tooleybuc-Manangatang tightened the game up in the second, kicking three goals to one to trail by 20 points at the main break.
With the quality of players they had out of the side, it was a nervous start for the undefeated Blues according to their coach Troy Coates.
“We were nervous early with the calibre of players we had out and with them (Tooleybuc-Manangatang) having close to a full-strength team – we certainly weren’t going to be taking them lightly,” Coates said.
“It was a bit of a scrap in the first half, but I think our fitness probably allowed us to get on top after half time and run away with the game a bit after the main break.”
“We tried to keep a few of their key players quiet – Nick Pay did a great job on Brayden Pitcher, who is a really quality player and to keep him to just two goals was a great result.”
Lachlan Ross continued his great season, dominating the game with his clean ball use in the defensive half of the ground for Kerang, along with ever-reliable Michael Dalrymple. Youngsters Sean Hunter and Tyson Clingan made the most of the extra game time, while Rylee Smith also excelled through the midfield, using his outside speed to break the game open, particularly in the second half.
One of the few negatives for Kerang was Bryce Curnow, with the reigning Jack Betts Medallist leaving the field with an injury in the last quarter and not returning.
Alex Powell was everywhere for the Saints – and was unlucky not to receive best on ground honours despite playing in the losing side – with the ruckman tearing the Blues to shreds in the absence of Troy Davis, kicking six goals from the ruck.
Shylo Smith was another Saint who could hold his head high with his game, with his class out of the middle keeping his side in the game in the first half – while Peter Rothacker, Shane Foley, John Wardle and Ryan Regan also among Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s better players.
On the back of their encouraging performance, the Saints will this Saturday travel to Lalbert to take on the Eagles – while Kerang will host Koondrook-Barham.
VOTES
3 – Lachlan Ross (Kerang)
2 – Alex Powell (Tooleybuc-Manangatang)
1 – Sean Hunter (Kerang)
MATCH RESULTS
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG 4.1 7.1 8.7 8.8.56
KERANG 8.4 9.9 13.12 18.18.126
GOALS – TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG – Alex Powell 6, Brayden Pitcher 2.
KERANG – Michael Runciman 5, Hayden Hall 3, Rylee Smith 3, Bryce Curnow 2, Harrison Saunders 2, Sean Hunter, Caleb Nitschke, Scott Pay 1.
BEST – TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG – Alex Powell, Shylo Smith, Peter Rothacker, Shane Foley, John Wardle, Ryan Regan
KERANG – Lachlan Ross, Sean Hunter, Michael Dalrymple, Tyson Clingan, Rylee Smith, Michael Runciman
