Ovens & Murray: Corowa-Rutherglen beats Wodonga Raiders in Easter Saturday whitewash

Corowa-Rutherglen is on the board under new coach Darryn Cresswell and a major divide is developing in the Goulburn Valley.

Corowa-Rutherglen posted its first win under new coach Darryn Cresswell with a 69-point rout of Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens & Murray league on Saturday.

After a first up loss, the new look Corowa-Rutherglen from last year overpowered the Raiders with the club’s latest signing, former Sydney player Jordan Foote, making an impressive debut with 25 possessions.

Foote played six matches for Sydney and produced a starring role in Woodville-West Torrens’ 2020 SANFL premiership win.

Former Sydney player and Woodville-West Torrens star Jordan Foote impressed on debut for Corowa-Rutherglen. Picture: Sarah Reed

Cresswell returned to the O&M this season after previous coaching stints with Raiders and Wangaratta Rovers, which resulted in major on field turnarounds he is hoping to emulate at Corowa-Rutherglen.

The Roos’ winning line-up against Raiders had 16 players who weren’t at the club last year.

Corowa-Rutherglen held Raiders goalless from midway through the opening term to late in the final term as forwards Kaelen Bradtke and Darcy Hope combined for seven goals and midfielders Tyler Roos, Ray Murphy and Josh Clayton asserted their dominance in the midfield.

Bradtke, who led the way with five goals, has returned to his original club from Geelong’s VFL team in the recruiting spree sparked by Cresswell coming on board.

Former VFL player Will Fordham was the Raiders’ best player and defender Will McCarty battled hard against overwhelming odds.

Daryn Cresswell has previously coached Wangaratta Rovers and Wodonga Raiders in the O&M. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The Raiders are sorely lacking scoring firepower with only seven goals in their first round loss to Myrtleford and only three against Corowa-Rutherglen.

Corowa-Rutherglen had to wait until round 17 last season to record its first win coming out of the previous season spent in recess.

Corowa-Rutherglen used all its 55 player points concession against the Raiders with Foote (3), and two other first gamers, Ky Williamson (4) and Joseph Ugle (4) pushing the Roos to the maximum allowable.

A bumper round of Easter action concludes on Sunday when Myrtleford hosts Lavington and Yarrawonga plays Wangaratta at Mulwala.

GOULBURN VALLEY

Mansfield unveiled star recruit Callum Brown in a 44-point win against Seymour as an early divide between six undefeated teams and the rest of the competition takes hold.

The former Collingwood player missed Mansfield’s first two wins of the season against Mooroopna and Shepparton United, which are winless along with Seymour, Euroa, Tatura, and Benalla.

Brown booted two goals with teammate Ben Christopher kicking four after playing only eight matches last year.

Mansfield dominated from the outset, leading by 30 points at halftime, as Tom Dunstan, Cody George and Jayden Howes also contributed to the win.

Echuca’s Hugh Byrne kicked eight goals against Tatura. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Echuca destroyed Tatura by 161 points with the premiers of the last three seasons running riot from the first bounce.

They led by 48 points at quarter time and kept Tatura scoreless in the second term to open a 95-point break by the main break.

Echuca was missing star midfielder Ben Reid due to injury, but had no shortage of dominant performers, led by young key forward Hugh Byrne, who booted eight goals.

Sam Edgar has forced his way into the powerful Echuca line-up and kicked four goals.

Other stars for Echuca were Jack Evans, Jackson Stewart and Will Monahan, who booted five goals.

The two matches followed four Good Friday clashes that included Kyabram handing out a 105-point thrashing of Benalla.

The hammering was headlined by another starring role from 2019 Morrison Medal winner Mick Mattingley, who was restricted to only two matches last year due to injury.

BENDIGO

Castlemaine’s first win against Golden Square in two decades has come at a big cost with a serious injury to captain Bailey Henderson.

Castlemaine downed Golden Square by 50 points on Good Friday, but the loss of Henderson for a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to a dislocated shoulder is a major blow to its finals aspirations.

In the season opener, Castlemaine lost star recruit Josh Eyre to a hamstring injury.

Golden Square went down to Eaglehawk in round 1 and has slumped to seventh spot on the ladder and plays reigning premier Sandhurst next round.

Golden Square’s player ranks have taken another hit early in the season.

Macey Eaton has joined Sunraysia club Irymple coached by 2023 Golden Square premiership player Jake Thrum.

Eaton was named among Irymple’s best players in its win against South Mildura.

Sandhurst has also suffered a major injury setback.

Star goalkicker Fergus Greene has broken his leg and missed Friday’s 50-point win against Strathfieldsaye.