Einsporn seals victory in nail-biter

Goals: Corowa Rutherglen: Kaelan Bradtke 5, Jarred Lane 3, Bill Hansen 1, Jason Marks 1.

Yarrawonga: Leigh Williams 6, Ryan Einsporn 1, Tim Lawrence 1, Jackson Meade 1, Harrison Wheeler 1, William Wheeler 1.

Best: Corowa Rutherglen: Jy Lane, Kaelan Bradtke, Jarred Lane, Jarryd Hatton, Cody Howard, Bill Hansen.

Yarrawonga: Kyal Tyson, Harrison Wheeler, William Wheeler, Ryan Einsporn, Leigh Williams, Caleb Mitchell.

The Yarrawonga Pigeons have resisted a late Corowa-Rutherglen surge with Ryan Einpsorn dealing the final blow to see the Pigeons notch up their fifth win of the season at the John Foord Oval on Sunday.

With a late withdrawal to Pigeon ruckman Lachie Howe, coach Mark Whiley was able to give an opportunity to consistent Reserves performer Kyal Tyson, who had the task of negating Corowa-Rutherglen big man Tom Goodwin.

The Pigeons fired out of the blocks early, dominating in possession and converting on the scoreboard.

It was the Wheeler brothers yet again setting the tone for the Pigeons, as they were able to win the ball out of the middle and give the forwards first look. Five unanswered goals within the first 25 minutes of the game was just the perfect start on the opposition home deck.

Key Forward Leigh Williams is proving to be a handful for opposition defenders, booting through three of his own in the first quarter.

Williams impressed onlookers as his ability to convert from the set shot was at an ultra-high level.

Momentum swings have become more prominent than ever before in Ovens and Murray football and if you are off your game for ten minutes, you can quickly lose control of the game.

Corowa-Rutherglen were able to hit back hard in the late part of the first quarter and into the second kicking five unanswered goals of their own.

With the momentum well and truly with Corowa-Rutherglen, an unfortunate leg injury to Roo Matt Wilson late in the second term halted play and the momentum which was welcomed by the Pigeons. With the Roo’s holding a one-point leading at the main break, the packed crowd at the John Foord Oval knew the game would go down to the wire.

The third term began with the Pigeon’s throwing the first punch and landing an important blow. Will Sexton weaved his way through the Roo’s defence to find the man in white-hot form, Leigh Williams. Williams, as expected, nailed the set shot from 40 metres out to give the Pigeons a much-needed spark. Soon after, the running man Ryan Einsporn found Williams again in the exact same position. This time, a 50-metre penalty gave Williams a shot from the goal square and his fifth for the day.

Tim Lawrence then cleverly found Harry Wheeler inside 50 who put one straight over the goal umpires hat. The Pigeons then were able to link up beautifully with exceptional ball use, going coast-to-coast with Jackson Meade slotting another from the set shot to give the Pigeons a 19-point buffer at three quarter time.

The big question on everyone’s lips, can Yarrawonga hold on to their lead? With the Pigeons yet to kick a goal in the final term in their last two outings, the ball was in their court to decide their own fate.

An extended three-quarter time address from Roos coach Peter German, the sense around the ground was that the Roo’s were going to throw everything they had at the Pigeons.

In the blink of an eye, after being held quiet all day from Logan Morey, Roo key forward Kaelan Bradtke kicked three goals in three minutes to reduce the margin to just two points.

With 22 minutes elapsed in the final term, a boundary throw in deep in the Corowa-Rutherglen forward line proved controversial.

Roo Charlie Nastasi sharking the ball out of the ruck and kicking the goal to give Corowa-Rutherglen the lead however as Nastasi did not nominate for the ruck, the goal was overturned with the Pigeons awarded the free kick in a game changing moment.

With two minutes remaining, the Pigeons needed someone, anyone to step up. This man was Ryan Einpsorn.

A desperate lunging holding the ball tackle 45 metres out from goal meant Einsporn had a chance from the set shot to seal the game for the Pigeons.

With extreme poise, Einsporn unloaded with a beautiful drop punt that had sailed through the middle as the Pigeons players and supporters erupted with sheer joy and relief.

Outstanding contributors through the game included Caleb Mitchell, who in just his second game of senior footy was one of the best players on the ground. Mitchell played beyond his years and looked at home across the halfback line.

Kyal Tyson was extremely impressive in his debut game taking on one of the league’s premier ruckman whilst the Wheeler brothers played a huge role in getting the Pigeons over the line.

A potential season defining victory for the Pigeons, as they are now 5-1 heading into a winnable game against North Albury.

Reserves

Corowa Rutherglen 3.2.22 defeated by Yarrawonga 22.16.148.

The Yarrawonga Reserves have put in a dominant display in their Sunday fixture at the John Foord Oval.

The Pigeons, although only dropping one game so far this season, still feel as though they are yet to put it all together and play the style they want to play.

The victory against Corowa-Rutherglen was a step in the right direction with contributors across the entire ground in a solid team display.

A strong mixture of young and experienced players were able to overwhelm Corowa-Rutherglen in the four-quarter performance.

Up forward, Jess ‘Jeffy’ Koopman was instrumental, booting five majors and showing glimpses that he is getting back to some of his best football.

Welcomed inclusion back into the line-up was Ned Pendergast, who once again demonstrated an unwavering attack on the football whilst also hitting the scoreboard with four majors of his own. Matt ‘Matches’ McCabe was one to also hit the scoreboard. Although not quite reaching his lofty standards of his record of 19 at the John Foord Oval, he settled for three of his own.

Jacob Adkins and Max Hemphill were also good contributors for the Pigeons using their footy smarts inside the attacking end.

Midfield ball-winners were irresistible in Xavier Leslie, Doug Arnold and Reed Bonat whilst Jack Forge and Tanner Nyholm were playing their wing roles beautifully, holding their structure for the team whilst the backline brigade lead by Scott Oswald and Cory Pearn were excellent throughout the day as they were often seen providing run and carry off the halfback line.

The highlight of the day was Jack Forge nailing consecutive ‘Boo Na Na’s’ from the same pocket within 5 minutes of each other.

Yarrawonga running out comfortable winners consolidating second spot on the ladder.

Goals: Jess Koopman 5, Ned Pendergast 4, Jack Forge 3, Matt McCabe 3, Reed Bonat 2, Jacob Adkins 2, Craig Frauenfelder 2, Matt Holgate.

Best: Jess Koopman, Douglas Arnold, Jack Forge, Xavier Leslie, Ned Pendergast, Max Hemphill.

Thirds

Corowa Rutherglen 13.6.86 def Yarrawonga 9.6.60.

The Pigeons Third 18 have let a game slip against Corowa-Rutherglen after leading at three quarter time.

With Jett Peters donning the blue and white on a permit from Mulwala and Cooper Milbourne pulling on the jumper for the first time this season, the Pigeons had solid numbers to take it to Corowa-Rutherglen on Sunday.

The Roo’s began on the front foot in the first quarter on their home deck, booting through four goals to the Pigeons 2.

However, the Pigeons were able to rally in the second term to reduce the margin at the main break.

Connor Phibbs was at the fall of the ball within every contest, crumbing every chance that he got. Ethan Byrne had a big job on Corowa-Rutherglen’s tall spearhead who had a reputation for kicking big bags of goals.

Byrne was outstanding, not giving him an inch of space and showing great strength. However, with the ball coming in hot inside 50, it was hard to keep him from kicking a few.

The Pigeons began to surge in the third term piling on four goals of their own.

Hunter Surrey, who has been consistent all season, was yet again able to make a positive impact on the game whilst Brendan Ryan was doing the tough stuff for the team, putting on blocks and not giving the opposition any room to move.

Hunter Frauenfelder was strong for the Pigeons, showing his ability to be flexible and apply his strengths wherever the team needed him whether it was forward or back whilst the Psaltaris twins were busy all day, as they both were able to hit the scoreboard at different stages.

A three-quarter time lead of 5 points proved to be not enough for the Pigeons, as the Roo’s ran right over the top.

A lack of run in the legs meant the Pigeons were not able to run out the game.

However, coach Frauenfelder was not disappointed with the effort and said “there is plenty to look forward to in the near future.”

Goals: Hunter Frauenfelder 3, Hunter Surrey 2, Addison Psaltiris 2, Dan Psaltiris, Darby Pendergast.

Best: Connor Phibbs, Hunter Frauenfelder, Ethan Byrne, Tom Oliver, Darby Pendergast, Hunter Surrey.

Awards: Darby Pendergast (Wingates), Harry Nagle (Aerial Muscle), Hugh Mullins (Yarra Fish & Chips).