Blues and Eagles battle to the final siren

By Matthew Kappos

Jul 14, 2024

Jack Tenace and Echuca United came agonisingly close to earning their first win of the year, but were eventually edged by the Blues 8.9 (57) to 7.13 (55). Photo: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

A maiden win for Echuca United looked to be in reach.

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The Eagles held the lead in the final term but were cruelly run down in the dying minutes.

Tongala snapped its own six-game losing streak and denied United a first win of the year at Tongala Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

The Blues threatened to run over the Eagles, like they did in the two sides’ round-two meeting, after they had the best of the first term, four goals to two, but the visitor responded in the second.

The Eagles had one of their better periods of the year, reversing the course of the game to log their own four-goals-to-two quarter and take the lead by a point 6.5 (41) to 6.4 (40) at the half.

Both sides struggled to make many inroads in the third, but United will be disappointed it couldn’t convert any of its six scoring shots in to goals.

In the end, the two teams went goalless for the quarter, United stretching the lead slightly with six minor scores to three in the period.

The game was well and truly up for grabs in the final term and Angus Scoble gave Tongala the lead with a major just ahead of the eight-minute mark.

Ten minutes later, Ryan Stobaus swung things back in the Eagles favour with a goal of his own.

It was the closest Echuca United had been to securing victory this year but Mitchell Gugliotti broke the Eagles hearts on the 23-minute mark, kicking what turned out to be a game-winning goal for Tongala.

United responded with a late behind but in the end fell by just two points, 7.13 (55) to the Blues 8.9 (57).

Gugliotti’s game winner was his third of game as he led the scoring for the Blues, while Scoble kicked two and Sam Cipriani, Andrew Hummerston and Alex Williams also got their name on the goalkickers list.

For the Eagles, Stobaus and Jack Tenace each contributed two to their side’s efforts, while Hunter Beveridge, Riley Godfrey and Oliver Poole were also goalkickers.

Having arrested a six-game slide, Tongala (5-8) looks ahead to a visit to Numurkah (6-5) next Saturday. Tonny defeated fellow Blues by 40 points when the two sides met in round three.

A reinvigorated Echuca United faces the challenge of hosting Cobram (8-5), and will hope to put in another confidence-building performance.