General News
26 July, 2023
Burras rubber-stamp fifth spot
MINYIP-Murtoa has all but booked its place in Wimmera Football League finals series after claiming a vital victory on Saturday. The Burras claimed its most important win of the season when they toppled second-placed Horsham Saints by two points in...
MINYIP-Murtoa has all but booked its place in Wimmera Football League finals series after claiming a vital victory on Saturday.
The Burras claimed its most important win of the season when they toppled second-placed Horsham Saints by two points in a thriller at Murtoa.
Entering the round a game clear of nearest rival Stawell, the Burras shot two games clear when the Warriors were soundly beaten by ladder leader Ararat at North Park in Stawell.
With wins to Southern Mallee Giants and Nhill, the top five currently has Ararat unbeaten at the top of the table, the Saints maintain their second place despite its loss, Southern Mallee Giants closing to within one game of second place in third, Dimboola in fourth and Minyip-Murtoa rounding out the top five in fifth.
Southern Mallee Giants struck a major blow when they hosted Dimboola in a battle for third place and came away with a powerful 47-point win, dominating from the outset, while Nhill claimed back-to-back wins for the first time in over five years when they dominated a clash against Horsham.
The thriller at Murtoa, saw the home team Burras skip to an early lead at quarter time when they kicked four unanswered goals in the opening stanza before withstanding two challenges from the Saints.
Leading by 15 points at three quarter time, the Burras were forced to hold off a fast-finishing Saints who kicked three goals to one in the final term and closed to within a kick of victory but were thwarted by the home team who claimed its two-point thriller.
Luke Fisher and John Delahunty were strong in the win to help celebrate team-mate Jae McGrath’s 200th Wimmera league appearance, while for the Saints Mitch Martin continued his goalkicking form to kick five of his team’s seven goals.
Ararat’s win over Stawell was built on the back of five goals to Tom Williamson who returned from suspension to help guide the Rats to a powerful 62-point victory.
The Rats skipped clear early and led by 22 points at quarter time before building on their lead to the final siren, dominating the second term when they added seven goals to one and led by 61 points at half time.
Nhill has celebrated back-to-back wins when they dominated their clash against Horsham at City Oval and broke a long drought of victories over the Demons which dates back to over 20 years ago.
These two sides played out a thrilling draw in the corresponding round earlier in the season, but the Tigers were on a mission for a big showing and flew out of the gates in the opening term with a dominating nine-goal burst to lead by 40 points at quarter time.
Four goals in each of the third and final quarters maintained a strong rate for the Tigers with Drew Schneider topping the list with five, while five other players finished with multiple goals, finishing off the work of Jake McQueen and Frazer Driscoll who led the charge for the Tigers.
At Hopetoun, the Giants win over Dimboola saw the home team charge out of the gates kicking four goals to one before building on their lead to the final siren, holding the Roos to their lowest score of the season and moving a game clear on the ladder.
Coleman Schache returned from suspension to produce a best on ground display, teaming well with Lou White as Zach Robins and Riley Lehmann kicked three goals each.
Warrack Eagles sat out a bye for the round and will make its return this weekend when they host Horsham at Anzac Park.