KERANG have survived a scare to continued their undefeated start to the season, narrowly defeating Tyntynder by four points.
After a slow start, Tyntynder fought their way back into the game but fell just short of an upset win against the reigning premiers.
The Blues started the game brighter, with Bradlee Pay kicking the first two goals.
Bulldogs forward Jason Eagle responded, slotting the first of his three goals halfway through the first term.
Goals to Rylee Smith and Adam Hunter gave the Blues a 17-point lead at quarter time.
But there was no doom in the Bulldog huddle, both players and coaches stressing the importance of cleaning up their disposal.
That happened straight away. Eagle took a strong leading mark and kicked a goal to kickstart his side.
Not long after, Roy George kicked the second of the term as the Bulldogs continued to pile on the forward pressure.
Their three-pronged forward line looked dangerous, with coach Josh Stone hoping they can be a real weapon going forward.
“Josh Dwyer was able to get a few games under his belt,” he said.
“I think having him, Ellis and Eagle, they’re able to switch it around and be unpredictable.
“It was nice to see the three of them working together and hopefully that can be a bit of a focal point for us.”
Eagle’s third goal and a smooth, on-the-run goal from Harry Simpson have their side a three-point lead at the major break.
During this time, Kerang coach Troy Coates emphasised the need for every single one of his players to stand up and to use their fitness to run out the game.
The Bulldogs were all about using the momentum they had created to overrun the Blues.
However, the momentum swung again back into Kerang’s favour, Hayden Hall and Samuel Nitschke both kicking goals early in the third term. With Tyntynder’s legs tiring, it looked as though Kerang would run away with the win.
Instead, the two sides took the fight to each other in the final quarter, with Tyntynder piling on the pressure and when Justin Ellis kicked the first of the term, the Bulldogs were filled with belief.
When Roy George kicked his second goal in the dying moments of the game, thanks to a 50-metre penalty, he brought the margin within a single straight kick.
But the nerves for the Blues were eased when, as soon as the ball was thrown up, the final siren sounded.
Kerang coach Troy Coates said the win had come as a relief.
“My watch was actually telling me to relax in that last quarter,” he said.
“It was a stressful one that’s for sure.
“We knew it would be a tough game, they always play well here and they complete really hard.
“Credit to them, they came out really up for it today, and I think they gave us a bit of a reality check today.”
FINAL SIREN
| Tyntynder | 1.3 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 8.11 | 59 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerang | 4.2 | 5.3 | 8.6 | 9.9 | 63 |
VOTES:
3 Rylee Smith – Kerang
2 Joshua Hann – Kerang
1 Matthew Gilbee – Tyntynder
