Kyabram Free Press

TRUE GRIT

Bombers see off ferocious Euroa challenge to remain unbeaten

- By Alex Mitchell

AFTER quite the fright at the Euroa Memorial Oval, Kyabram found a way to get across the line and keep its record-breaking undefeated streak intact.

The top of the Goulburn Valley League ladder clash saw Euroa bring the heat early and lead for much of the game before Kyabram dug deep to pull off a sevenpoint win.

The Magpies had two players sent off in the third term but fought hard to take a lead to the final term.

But the unstoppabl­e Bombers came up trumps in the game’s biggest moments to survive and claim a 30th straight victory.

Coach Paul Newman said the side had fought through a tough day at the office to steal another victory.

‘‘Euroa’s attack on the contest was really good and they put plenty of pressure on us early,’’ he said.

‘‘A few guys were down on the day but others stood up and we were able to grind our way into the lead.’’

Early in the contest, however, it did not look like it would be Kyabram’s day. Euroa kicked four first-quarter goals to take a 14-point lead to quarter-time.

The Magpies, always dangerous with their ability to run and spread, continued to cause problems in the second quarter and went to the main break with a two-goal lead and more than a sniff of a huge upset win.

But ill-discipline cost the Magpies in the second half with Brad Gleeson and Matthew Hess sent from the field after an all-in brawl.

Kyabram capitalise­d and turned the deficit into a 10-point lead, but Euroa wouldn’t go down easily and responded to wrestle the lead with 18 men back on the field.

But the Bombers had not won 29 straight games without learning how to lift when needed, and took their game to another level in the last to sneak away with the win, 10.13 (73) to 9.12 (66).

Newman said they had lifted defensivel­y to create enough chances to win.

‘‘We stepped up our pressure around the ground and created turnovers in dangerous parts of the ground,’’ he said.

He added Euroa was just one of a number of teams coming for Kyabram’s crown in 2017.

‘‘There are plenty of good teams this season, but Euroa is certainly in the mix,’’ Newman said.

‘‘It’s a pretty competitiv­e year this year, and the weekend showed us there isn’t much separation between us and three or four teams.’’

Billy Burstin, Jake Reeves and Brad Whitford led the scoring, each kicking two goals in one of the games of the season.

Kyabram remains undefeated at 9-0 and two games clear at the top, but it was another wake-up call that the team will need to lift come finals time to seal a second consecutiv­e premiershi­p.

Not content with 30 straight wins, Newman said he still saw improvemen­t to come from the team.

‘‘Consistenc­y is important for us, and trying to keep motivated for the whole season is a challenge as well,’’ he said.

‘‘We need to keep doing the team thing constantly, but that is the nature of our side.

‘‘Our skill level has been down at times and we work hard on our kicking and handballin­g in tight spaces; we’re looking for five to 10 per cent improvemen­t and we’re hoping that will make a difference later in the year.’’

The tests keep coming for the Bombers, with third-ranked Benalla coming to town this Saturday as the next side to try to snap the streak.

The Saints have been in dangerous form this season but slipped two weeks ago in a 44-point loss to Seymour, before getting back to their winning ways last round with a 116-point flogging of Shepparton United. ■ ON COURSE FOR PERFECT REPEAT, page 24

 ?? Picture: Ray Sizer ?? Billy Burstin sends two Euroa players flying during Kyabram’s nail-biting seven-point win.
Picture: Ray Sizer Billy Burstin sends two Euroa players flying during Kyabram’s nail-biting seven-point win.

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