Lions push up the ladder
Mulwala were looking to extend their winning run and Rumbalara who are always a dangerous prospect were looking for their second win of the season.
Mulwala’s Ben Radcliff was on the goals score card inside the first 30 seconds off a game from a classic centre clearance that hit up a strong lead from swing man Josh Hammond.
The Rumba players were quick to lock down on the Mulwala mid fielders which turned the game into a scrappy contest for a period of time.
Mulwala’s back line was repelling all efforts from Rumba to get on the scoreboard however costly turn overs in transition let Rumba into the game.
The Rumbalara big men got on top in the centre which was giving their small very agile players first use of the ball and causing Mulwala plenty of issues.
The effort of Crossley, Butts, Lewis and Johns was keeping the pressure on around the contest but Mulwala’s scoring opportunities were only resulting in points.
At the other end quick transition had Mulwala’s back men under constant pressure and goals resulted to give Rumba a handy early lead.
The switch of Hammond and Clarke and Jack Sutherland into the ruck had an immediate impact getting the ball into Mulwala’s forward fifty with more purpose and two late goals resulted. Mulwala’s young players started to find their feet against the Rumba boys and as their confidence grew they started to impact on the contests.
Pressure from Zach Scott, Tanner Nyholme, Flynn Fletcher and Lewis Taylor created turn overs and made Rumba’s task of scoring much more difficult.
The back lines of both teams were on top during the second term with scoring slowing as they cut off forward fifty entries and rebounded the ball into the midfield.
The difference at the long break was a solitary point with strong work by the Wilson boys playing a big part in making sure Mulwala was able to control the ball around the contests.
Their strength and speed meant Rumba players weren’t getting the space they liked to play their fast-flowing brand of football.
Mulwala used the long break to reset with a number of positional moves helping to get things going in the early part of the third term.
Caleb Mitchell the under 17 sub player was injected into the game on the wing with a dream start to senior football kicking a fantastic running goal of the first centre clearance. He was very excited as were his senior team mates who swamped him to congratulate him on his amazing effort.
Caleb went on to collect a number of possessions, kick another goal and make a solid contribution during the second half.
The second half was a vastly different story
Mulwala 3.2, 5.8, 11.11, 18.11.119.
Rumbalara 5.1, 6.4, 8.5, 10.5.65.
Goals: Mulwala: Harrison Crossley 4, Jackson Gash 3, Benjamin Radford 2, Caleb Mitchell 2, Bradley Wilson 2, Rhys Moylan 1, Dylan Robinson 1, Bodhi Butts 1, Beau Clarke 1, Flynn Fletcher 1.
Rumbalara: Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson 4, Clayton McCartney 2, Nathan Terlich 1, Steven Stallion 1, Rhyss Morgan 1, Jai Utiger 1.
Best: Mulwala: Harrison Crossley, Jackson Gash, Rhys Moylan, Bradley Wilson, Joshua Hammond, Beau Clarke.
Rumbalara: Justin Terlich, Kane Atkinson, Peter Hood, Clayton McCartney, Ryan Lovegrove-Hudson. than the first with Sutherland, Butts and Gash getting on top which help Mulwala to dominate around the ground, setting up scoring opportunities aplenty. Rumba had started to tire and the Mulwala players sensed this, lift their work rate to dominate the contest.
Six goals in the third term were followed by seven in the last term to set up a strong win. Mulwala had very few passengers on the day with all player contributing at times.
There were a long list of stand out players who contributed across the four quarter and a number who chipped in when required which contributed to a solid win and an five and zero start to the season with plenty of improvement to come.
The playing group will get stronger in the coming weeks with some strong performances in the reserves by a number of players and rested senior players available.
They will be tested with some big challenges coming up against ladder leaders Tongala and Cobram in the coming weeks.
Reserves
Mulwala
5.3.33.
The Reserves were looking to atone from their loss to Barooga last week and hit the scoreboard early through some good work from Sean Robinson and Cam Magher who were in everything early. Andy Miller was getting bodied around in the ruck contests but was running his larger opponents ragged around the ground getting kicks at will.
Straight kicking from the forwards meant the pressure was maintained throughout the first half.
The game became a bit scrappier in the second half as the Rumba team were trying to exert their presence however Mulwala were able to concentrate on the footy and continued to run over the top of them.
Goals: C. Magher 4, H. Cartwright, A. Maskell-Dunstan 2 each, L. Martin, R. Perkinson, S. Robinson, M. McLachlan, A. Frauenfelder, J. Macdermid 1 each.
Best: C. Magher, N. Beasley, H. Cartwright, M. McLachlan, A. Miller, S. Robinson.
14.12.96 defeated Rumbalara
Thirds
Mulwala 14.8.92 defeated Rumbalara 1.1.7. The thirds again showed what they are capable of in the first half by closing down Rumba, running hard and working together to demoralise their opposition early.
Connor Phibbs was having his best game of the year after a stint in the seniors last week and he and Caleb were tearing shreds through the Rumbalara midfield.
Jyda was his typical straight kicking self and the boys took a very good lead into halftime.
After the break the boys seemed to ease off a little allowing the backline to get some kicks and Jaxen Wheeler and Ethan Byrne were putting on some great pressure around the ground.
Another great team effort and very welldisciplined performance from all the boys.
Goals: J. House 7, A. Scott 2, C. Mitchell, R. Bartlett, C. McKenna, C. Phibbs, J. Parmenter 1 each.
Best: C. Phibbs, C. Mitchell, J. House, C. McKenna, J. Wheeler, E. Byrne.
The perfect conditions made for fast open football at Lonsdale Reserve on Saturday. Mulwala welcomed back two of their most experienced players in Bodhi Butts and Sean Johns from injury which provided extra fire power in the midfield and across half back.
Fourths
Mulwala 4.2.26 defeated by Rumbalara 7.15.57.
The young Mulwala boys started the game very strongly with the midfield performing well against some bigger Rumbalara bodies.
Ollie Watson and Zach Wheeler were again in everything working hard to each contest.
Xavier Watson and Max Holgate were doing some great work and the pressure from all the little fellas in the backline was ensuring that Rumba were not able to maximise their scoring.
Van Kreeck was getting on the end of some great Mulwala passages of play and at times the boys looked as though they were the better team.
Nash McNamara was contesting marks as though he was 3 foot taller and showed his tenacity right until the final siren.
Although the boys were defeated they showed great character within the group to never give up all day.
Goals: V. Kreeck 2, B. Johnson 2.
Best: N. McNamara, X. Watson, Z. Wheeler, V. Kreeck, O. Watson, B. Johnson.