Eastern Riverina Chronicle Round 4 – Review

JINDERA has got its 2018 season back on track with a comfortable win over Culcairn, winning by 33 points in a replay of last year’s preliminary final.

The Bulldogs, after losing two of their first three matches, led from start to finish in a tough and physical encounter.

Culcairn, were reeling after the retirement of coach Josh Hillary and Brendan Way midweek, and gave plenty of effort but struggled again to kick goals.

The Bulldogs’ decision to tag Lions star Jye Shields with veteran Tom Weldon paid dividends.

Matt Osborne, Ryan Speed and Harry Weaven also played well.

The best for Culcairn were Caleb Simmons, Ben Gould, Moses Baleidrokadroka and Jesse Sutherland.

Jindera gun forward Trent Castles kicked three and Lions’ star John Robbins, none.

****

HOLBROOK travelled to Howlong and inflicted the homeside’s first loss for the season by walloping the Spiders by 97 points.

Despite having eight senior players unavailable, including coach Matthew Sharp (calf), the Brookers put on a clinic after the disappointing one-point loss the previous week.

Local juniors Josh Jones, Andrew Mackinlay (six goals), Will Heriot and Brad Carman led the way with Jayden Beaumont (four goals) and David Tassell giving great support.

The Brookers have now moved to fourth place on the ladder while Howlong remain third but its percentage took a pounding after trailing by just five points at quarter time.

Daniel Manning was excellent again for Howlong  with five goals, while ruckman Peter Hancock and exciting youngster Ben Baker were wonderful contributors.

****

OSBORNE made it two wins in a row by outlasting and outclassing a determined Rand Walbundrie Walla Giants at Rand.

The visitors are back in excellent form after losing its first two matches to start its title defence.

Declan Galvin was outstanding with five goals.

The Giants hung in for a long time and only trailed by six points at half-time and 16 at the final change before the visitors took control.

Sam Rutland, Duncan McMaster, Izaac McDonnell and Jamie Parr played huge final quarters as the Cats kicked four goals to one.

Chris Duck with another big performance would be leading the Giants, Mitch Thomas and Blake Lieschke were next best.

****

HENTY have gone to the top of the Hume Football League ladder after they blew the Billabong Crows away with a huge second half to win by 91 points.

The two-pronged star forward set up of high profile recruits Jarrah Maksymow (seven goals) and Damian Cupido (four goals) proved a nightmare for the Crows defence.

Daniel Cox, who appeared on reality television show The Recruit, again dazzled opposition with a brilliant display off half back.

Teenager George Sandral again impressed to be the Crows’ best, ahead of Al Austin, Luke Kuschert and Angus Bourchier.

****

CDHBU moved into the top six with a thumping 85-point win over Lockhart at Coreen, after a seven goal first quarter.

The Power with 11 separate goalkickers never looked under threat with Ryan Mills best on ground including three goals.

Kade Rowe, Liam Butler and John Webb all kicked three goals as well and also had excellent games to keep the Power in finals contention.

Best for Lockhart in a disappointing display were ruckman Zachary Sheather, midfielder matt Endrez and on baller Wylie Harrington.

****

BROCK Burrum Saints brought Murray Magpies back to earth with a 71-point win at Urana Road, Lavington.

In a high scoring and entertaining encounter, it was the class and run of the Saints’ midfield that really broke the game open after half-time.

Young gun Eddie Ziebarth kicked four goals in a career best haul, while Nick Brockley, Aiden Johnson, Josh McCudden, Ron Boulton and Nick Sedgwick all kicked three goals.

Magpies, who lost Josh Maher midweek at the tribunal for five matches, were best served by forwards Ash Murray (5) and Brad Thompson (4) goals.

Hume selectors will shortly announce the senior and junior representative squads for the interleague clash at Howlong on May 19 against Ovens and King FL.

ROUND FIVE

• Brock Burrum v Howlong (at Brock)
• Culcairn v Henty
• Holbrook v CDHBU
• Jindera v Rand Walb Walla
• Lockhart v Billabong Crows
• Osborne v Murray Magpies