Prout and Willoughby star as Echuca holds off fast-finishing Bombers in wet

Premiership defender Logan Prout made an immediate impact in his return to the side, while Sam Willoughby shone in difficult second-half conditions to propel the men in green to their second win.

It was Kyabram with the perfect start, however, as Rhys Clark and the dangerous Kyle Mueller booted the first two goals of the game in quick succession.

Hugh Evans and Cooper Barber replied in similar fashion as an old-fashioned shootout looked to be brewing at Kyabram Recreation Reserve before goals to Jack Evans and Matt Lias nudged Echuca ahead by 12 points at quarter-time.

It was the Bombers who came out firing to start the second term, but for all their possession they failed to covert on the scoreboard with Kayne Pettifer’s strike the only major among five scoring shots.

Meanwhile, Echuca made them pay at the other end, notching four majors via Willoughby, Corbin Anderson, Riley Smith, and skipper Will Monahan on the half-time siren to boast a 25-point lead at the main break.

Honours were shared in the third quarter as key defender Lachlan Smith showcased his trademark aerial ability across half-back, repelling Echuca alongside Brad Whitford in defence.

But despite their efforts the Bombers trailed the reigning premier by 30 points heading into the final term, looking for all money like they were out of the contest as the rain started pummelling down.

But two quick-fire goals to Kaine Herbert and Mueller at the start of the quarter saw Kyabram roar back into the contest, drawing it within striking distance of Echuca.

Willoughby’s second goal extended the Murray Bombers lead, but a goal to Aidan Robinson handed Kyabram a glimmer of hope, which was quickly extinguished by Sam Reid with the sealer to gift Echuca a 21-point win over its fierce rival.

“It was a good game of footy played in good spirits,” Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said.

“Both sides had a big crack, by the end of the game it became a wet-weather contest and we had to adapt a little bit.

“I thought we were on top and playing all right, Kyabram had a lot of the ball, but we defended really well.

“When the rain came I thought they adapted a bit better than what we did. They got themselves back in the game in the last quarter.”

Echuca’s back six drew praise from Maddox alongside Prout and Willoughby, who stacked up the possessions to go with his two goals.

“I thought the back six defended really well,” Maddox said.

“They forced Ky to take their shots from difficult spots.

“I thought Logan Prout performed really well off half-back. Him and Sam Willoughby were standouts for me, Andrew (Walker) and Mitch (Wales) also played well.

“It was a real team effort in slogging conditions.”

The result keeps Echuca atop the Goulburn Valley League ladder after two rounds, undefeated alongside Euroa, Mooroopna, and Seymour.

But Maddox fully expects Kyabram to be among that leading pack at season’s end.

“I expect to see Kyabram there at the pointy end of the year,” he said.

“They moved the ball well and they’re going to be a hard team to beat, so to go over there and beat them under lights at Kyabram is a good win.”

Echuca will travel to Moon Oval to face Rochester in round three, while Kyabram will hope to rebound against Shepparton Bears.

Around the league, the Tigers were outclassed by a fast-starting Seymour out at Kings Park, defeated by 30 points.

Shepparton Swans notched their first win of the year with a 25-point triumph over Shepparton United, while Euroa flexed its muscle with an 89-point demolition of Benalla.

Meanwhile Tatura, coming off a 98-point defeat to Echuca, threatened to lodge an early competitor for upset of the season when it nearly knocked off preliminary finalist Mansfield at Tatura Park, conceding a three-quarter-time lead to fall to Mansfield by 10 points.

Mooroopna moved to 2-0 after a 14-point win over a determined Bears outfit.