Tallangatta: Yackandandah comes from behind to beat Beechworth
Yackandandah is becoming a serious flag threat in the Tallangatta and District league. Read about its latest scalp and check in around the country footy grounds.
Yackandandah held off a fast-finishing Beechworth to win a Tallangatta and District league thriller by 10 points on Saturday.
The Roos led by 29 points at halftime before the midfield ascendancy flipped in the third term with Beechworth closing to within 16 points at three quarter time.
The Bushrangers kicked the four of the first five goals in the final term to hit the front before Casey George and Ethan Patrala kicked late goals for the Roos to clinch a 10-point win that coach Darren Holmes rated as his team’s best of the season.
“It is a really good win,” he said.
“We made some mistakes, but we’ve got a young group.
“To win with that heart and that spirit, that is the story we’re trying to tell.
“We didn’t fall away like we might have in the past.”
Yackandandah hasn’t lost a game this season after missing finals last year and drew with reigning premier Chiltern in round 2.
Beechworth went into the match on top of the ladder and slipped to third with the narrow loss.
The Roos opened the game up in the second term with Ben McIntosh and Lee Dale dominant in the midfield and Jim Lawson and Nick Donaghey kicking two goals for the term.
The Bushrangers were wasteful in front of goal with 201cm giant Jai Middleton among the chief culprits for inaccuracy.
But Beechworth came with a rush at the start of the last term with Lachlan Armstong kicking two for the term with his second putting the Bushrangers in front.
Johann Jarratt was responsible for a couple of crucial tackles in the Roos forward 50m with the ball spilling free from one and Donaghey pouncing to ram through his fourth for the day.
Casey George, who recently kicked 20 goals against Wahgunyah, put Yackandandah back in front and Patrala sealed the win with a shot on the run.
Yackandandah went into the match without No. 1 ruckman Zac Leitch who joined the Roos from Ovens and Murray club Wangaratta.
He has a back injury and with the next week, Holmes said the Roos erred on the side of caution.
“He could have played today, but it is a long season,” he said.
“Zac is a real impact player and we need him fit and firing.”
WIMMERA
Dimboola kicked away in the last term to beat Southern Mallee Giants by 16 points in a battle between two Wimmera league finals contenders on Saturday.
Less than a goal separated the two teams at the three breaks before Dimboola broke the deadlock with five goals to three in the final quarter.
Essendon District league recruits Michael Graham and Sam Godden booted seven goals between them and Dylan Landt kicked two goals in his first match for the club.
Landt won the Nicholas Medal for the best player in the Northern Territory premier division over summer.
His brother Jack coaches Dimboola.
Southern Mallee Giants’ best player was Billy Lloyd, who joined the club from Melton South this season.
OVENS AND MURRAY
Albury has overcome the big loss of ruckman Isaac Muller in the second quarter to beat Wangaratta Rovers by 31 points on Saturday.
Muller landed heavily in a ruck contest in the second term and took further part in the match when the back of his head made contact with the ground.
He was assisted from the ground by trainers and won’t play for the Ovens and Murray in its interleague clash against Goulburn Valley next Saturday under concussion management protocols.
It is a massive blow for the O and M with Muller expected to be it’s No. 1 ruckman for the second year in a row after starring in its big win against Goulburn Valley last season.
Jeff Garlett and Lucas Conlan kicked three goals for Albury with Conlan’s brother Jacob missing again with injury and also set to miss the interleague game.
Albury took control in the second and third quarters before cruising to victory with Brayden O’Hara and Jessy Wilson playing starring roles.
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