After a long pre-season, it was great to finally have footy back.
With high levels of anticipation, Echuca United’s reserves made the trip to Tongala keen to test themselves against the reigning premier.
The standard of football from both teams was very high, with both sides moving the ball freely from end to end. Scores were level at half-time, which was a pretty good reflection of the match to that point, as neither side had been able to break the game open.
However, during the third quarter, United lost its way a little and had too many players hunting the footy. As a result, Tongala’s better structure helped it to a four-goal lead at the last break.
Pleasingly, the United boys dug in, not allowing the more experienced Tongala side to blow them away and in the end, although defeated, they can take a lot of positives and some things to work on in training this week.
Awards
Matt Harris (Moama Bowling Club)
Riley Godfrey (Caledonian Hotel)
Jacob Russell (Echuca Hotel)
Brodie Lloyd (Nifty’s Car Wash)
Nick George (Great Aussie Beer Shed)
Under-17s
Echuca United 3.3, 6.3, 9.6, 11.6 (72) d Tongala 5.1, 6.5, 8.7, 10.10 (70)
The Echuca United thirds started their season off on the right foot with a hard-fought two-point win over Tongala on Saturday.
Both sides battled out each quarter in a tight contest, with the United backline put to the test from the first minute of the game.
Tongala was away quickly, putting the first score on the board, but Echuca United was quick to reply and managed to sneak in to the lead by half-time. The final quarter had many on the edge of their seats with United’s defenders having to put everything they had into holding off the hard-finishing Tongala.
Awards could have gone to many but this week’s best were Hunter Beveridge (best-on-ground), Ryder Douglas (Rich River Golf Club), Cooper Boyd (Murray Valley Driver Education), Jude Phyland (Roma Pizza) and Jackson Lewis (Intersport Echuca).
The welcome return to Echuca United of former player Peter Bird as coach of the young thirds side started off well with a close win over his old club.
This year’s Good Friday match will have United hosting Moama in what is always a great day of footy.
Under-14s
Echuca United 4.3, 8.4, 11.7, 15.11 (101) d Tongala 0.0, 1.0, 1.2, 1.2 (8)
The first round of the season saw Echuca United’s under-14s travel to Tongala. United came out strong in the first quarter and continued to dominate throughout the game.
Cooper Lewis and Max Potter both had a major impact on the game, kicking three goals each.
The award winners were River Masters (Rich River Golf Club), J.J. Flanagan (Roma Pizza), Xan Spiers (KFC Echuca), Jye Blachford (McDonald’s Echuca) and Max Potter Intersport Echuca).
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