Gippsland, Goulburn Valley, Murray: Sale, Echuca and Nathalia record important wins

Sale has beaten Maffra for the second time this season to remain in the mix for the double chance. See all the latest country footy news.

Sale has shunted Maffra out of the Gippsland league top five with a 44-point win that has left its arch rival at risk of missing finals for the first time in two decades.

The match at the Sale Oval hung in the balance at three quarter time after Maffra clawed back from 49 points down early in the third term.

It trimmed the deficit to 12 points off the back of a dominant quarter performance from in form halfback Hudson Holmes after he had left the ground injured in the first half.

Significant second half of season win by Sale against old foes Maffra today. ⁦@GippyLeague⁩ ⁦@GippslandFooty⁩ ⁦@ctryfootyscores⁩ ⁦@theweeklytimes⁩ pic.twitter.com/o2qHTqSC3j

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) July 9, 2022

But momentum back Sale’s way early in the last quarter when Maffra missed a running shot on goal that would have made the margin only six points and then conceded a costly free kick on the last line of defence.

Sale’s Jarrad Freeman converted the free kick and followed up soon after with another goal that put the home team back in control.

The flood gates then opened and Sale cruised to a 16.14 (110) to 10.6 (66) victory.

Sale is still in the mix to finish with the double chance, but Maffra has lost its top five spot to Morwell which is on a late season roll with six wins from its last seven games.

Sale coach Jack Johnstone. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

“It was a massive game given the significance of the ladder positions at this stage of the year,” Sale coach Jack Johnstone said.

“It just gave it that extra bit of feeling.

“We thought their midfield was probably down in the first half, but with the players in there we knew they were going to lift.

“We’re taking it week by week at this stage, the Gippsland league is too good a competition to go in thinking you are going to win (each week).”

Freeman finished with four goals and Sale had other avenues in attack in Brad Dessent and Tom Campbell, who both kicked three goals.

Sale’s top tier players, midfielder Shannen Lange, ruckman Jack Leslie and halfback Ryan Pendlebury were also prominent.

John Butcher kicked four goals for Maffra, including three in the third term fightback, but finished the day with a hamstring injury.

Dylan Alexander, who had the tagging job on Lange, suffered a knock to the hip in third term and didn’t return for the rest of the match.

“We had a couple of moments that didn’t go our way,” Maffra coach Anthony Robbins said.

“We were fourth, equal points, with I think third through to sixth, and we probably drop out of the five now.

“We had a crack today, but I just thought our execution was a bit poor in the first half.”

GOULBURN VALLEY

Ladder leader Echuca has firmed into an even hotter favourite to win the premiership by demolishing second-placed Euroa by 62 points.

Echuca set up its best win of the season in the first term when it kicked five goals to one and then completed the rout with a six goal to nil final term.

The victors had winners all over the ground with none better than wingman Riley Smith with Jack McHale doing his Morrison Medal chances no harm with another dominant display in the midfield.

Echuca star Jack McHale. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Ruory Kirkby kicked four goals from centre half-forward and Daniel Willis booted three alternating between the midfield and up forward.

“It was good to come out on top,” Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox said.

“It was good, hard, old fashioned football.

“We jumped them in the first quarter, the second and third was an arm wrestle and then we opened them up a bit in the last quarter.

“We feel if we play our best footy we are really hard to beat.

“It was pleasing to win by 10 goals.”

In an ominous warning to rival clubs, Echuca is due to get even stronger with Greater Western Sydney recruit Sam Reid to return in coming weeks from an extended break due to injuries he suffered in the first round against Rochester.

Euroa remains in second place despite the loss and Kyabram has climbed to third spot after thrashing Mooroopna by 55 points.

Kayne Pettifer kicked four goals for Kyabram and Lachlan Smith, Jake Reeves and Cade Mueller among best players.

Mooroopna mid-season recruit Jackson Trengove kicked three goals.

MURRAY

Nathalia has scored a massive upset win against undefeated Cobram with a thrilling one-point victory.

Nathalia remained in seventh spot on the ladder after one of the biggest shocks of the season with a point kicked in the final minute breaking the deadlock.

Cobram won its last 10 matches of the Covid shortened 2021 season and went into the match against Nathalia on a 12-match winning streak.

Harrison Hawks and Tom Nihill played starring roles for Nathalia and Brodie Ross had a great battle in the ruck with Cobram’s Kyle Coates.

Nathalia was jumped in the first quarter by Cobram before charging back into the contest with a six goal to nil second term.