The Tungamah Football Netball Club capped off a successful season on Saturday with seven of their 11 grades contesting Grand Finals in the Picola and District Football Netball League.
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The netballers dominated the day, coming home with four premierships while it was a mixed bag on the footy field with the Seniors and Reserves going down while the Under 17s claimed the ultimate success.
The club as a whole has been rewarded as the Club Champions of 2022 with only one grade missing finals.
The season was celebrated well with players, supporters, sponsors and officials making their way back to Jubilee Park on Saturday evening to celebrate season 2022 with the Boosey Bash.
Seniors
Waaia 3.0, 10.5, 11.9, 13.15.93.
Tungamah 4.1, 6.2, 6.5, 7.6.48.
Goals: Waaia: R. Osborne 6, C. Burrows 3, J. Trower 2, B. Coates, J. Clarke.
Tungamah: B. Beaton 2, X. Stevenson, D. Symes, A. Saunders, J. Irvine, Z. Scott.
Best: Waaia: A. Holland, R. Osborne, J. Clarke, D. Cornick, M. Cleeland, A. Bergamin.
Tungamah: D. Scott, S. Ferguson, Z. Scott, X. Stevenson, T. Jones, J. Lawless.
From start to finish the Waaia Bombers had their foot on the accelerator, storming to a Picola District Football League grand final victory against Tungamah at a wet and windy Katunga Recreation Reserve.
Chris ‘Cheezy’ Powell played his 200th senior game, gunning for his 6th premiership at the club after 5 previous Premierships, 2 runner up best and fairests and a couple of best on ground for Mad Mondays.
In the first quarter the Bears were on top, coming back from two goals down to hold a seven-point lead at the first break, however, things changed in the second.
When the teams broke their huddles for the second quarter Waaia came out hungry, with Jessie Trower slotting a major, before another Bombers goal had them hit the front.
Soon after, Tungamah got the scores back level, before Waaia’s Rob Osborne produced a volley to push the Bombers’ lead out further later in the term.
Holding a 10.6 (66) to 6.2 (38) buffer at the main break, the game was Waaia’s to lose, with an arm wrestle of a third quarter growing the margin to 34 at the last break.
Two more majors to Waaia in the last quarter got the party started for the Bombers, with the side cruising to a drought breaking victory.
It was a disappointing defeat for Tungamah but despite the loss, Bears coach Xavier Stevenson said he was proud of his team and the club.
“I said to the boys after the game ‘unfortunately in football there can only be one winner’ and guided off that you’d say that you’re either successful or unsuccessful based off one result,” Stevenson said.
“But I still think we had a successful year, we developed a lot of players, we were able to get seven sides into the grand finals, so the club’s in a really great position.
“Unfortunately Waaia were just too good on the day and credit to them, they played a really good brand of football today and we weren’t able to match them.”
Dylan Scott was named the Bears’ best for his efforts in defence, while Sam Ferguson and Zach Scott also stood out.
With a big crowd in attendance, an entertaining game of football and Waaia breaking its premiership drought, it is clear that football is back.
Reserves
Strathmerton 0.3, 2.5, 3.7, 6.8.44.
Tungamah 1.3, 2.4, 2.7, 3.9.27.
Goals: Strathmerton: J. Mackenzie 3, S. Mansfield, A. Wood, D. Buzza.
Tungamah: M. Irvine, J. Henderson, D. Clarke.
Best: Strathmerton: Not supplied.
Tungamah: M. Irvine, W. Sharp, N. Waite, J. Saunders, N. Gamble, M. Adkins.
After a previously undefeated season, the Bears reserves unfortunately went down in the decider with Strathmerton winning the reserves grand final last Saturday.
The Bulldogs came from behind to pick up the result, with an arm wrestle of a decider having them run out 6.8 (44) to 3.9 (27) victors.
Initially, the Bears were on top, with poor kicking from both sides having Tungamah enter the first break six points up.
When the second quarter rolled around the Bulldogs were all over their opponents, yet a failure to make it count on the scoreboard had them just one point up at the main break.
It was clear that the wet surface benefited neither side on the day, with the close midfield battle having Strathmerton build its lead to one goal in the third term.
This close contest continued throughout the final term, with a Bulldogs goal opening the door for the Bulldogs to run away with the result.
Despite the close contest throughout, the Bulldogs found a way, piling on a total of three last-quarter goals to secure victory.
A missed chance to the Bears in this final term proved costly and when the Bulldogs’ backline stood up, they could not be beaten.
“They’re a great side and it was the same last year, they were probably the best side, so to battle it out and get the win, for an old fella it’s really good,” Strathmerton coach Jade Shannon said.
For the Bears the result was heartbreaking, with the loss their first of the season.
Matt Irvine was named Tungamah’s best, while the efforts of Will Sharp and Nathan Waite were also recognised.
Despite the low score, Saturday’s contest was one to remember.
Tungamah 2.1, 3.2, 6.3, 8.10.58.
Katandra 2.0, 2.3, 4.3, 5.4.34.
Goals: Tungamah: L. Phillips 3, A. Doherty, L. Williams 2, J. Costigan.
Katandra: F. Walters 2, M. Lawford, K. Beaton, A. Mamone.
Best: Tungamah: L. Williams, G. Montgomery, L. Phillips, M. Hughes, J. Raven, H. Thomson.
Katandra: W. Morrissey, L. Malcolm, B. Waters, K. Beaton, A. Bollard, L. Bennett.
The Bears had worked hard all season to earn their position in the Grand Final. Team selection was difficult with 5 of the boys having to miss out but to their credit they all got in and supported the starting 24 players.
The Bears had played Katandra twice throughout the season which resulted in 1 win a-piece.
The boys were surprisingly calm before the game with the energy building to the first bounce.
The first quarter was tough with all players trying to handle the slippery conditions so there were no easy possessions to be had.
The Bears went into quarter time with a 1-point lead which was handy as they were kicking into a strong breeze. The second quarter was the same arm wrestle with all players going hard at the ball and laying strong tackles.
The Bears were able to keep the Kats to 3 behinds and kicked 1 goal 1 to take a 5-point lead into the half time break.
Sidey gathered the boys into the huddle and stressed to them how hard they had worked and that they were not going to let this one slip through their fingers.
The pressure had not let up all day and the Bears seemed to lift a gear and worked really into the breeze to score 3 goals to the Kats 2 to have a 12-point lead at 3/4 time.
The game was in the balance with both sides giving their all to achieve the ultimate reward. The Bears seemed to have a bit more fuel in the tank and began to move the ball with more freedom and started to open up the lead.
At the final siren the Bears had scored 2 goals 7 to the Kats 1 goal 1 in the last quarter to come home with a 24-point win and a premiership to their name.
Liam Williams played a ripping game with his work around the ground gathering many hard possessions and kicking 2 goals to be judged best a field by the umpires.
Geoff Montgomery topped off a fantastic season with another outstanding game taking many strong marks and driving the ball forward regularly.
Lach Phillips was the difference between the 2 sides, able to break through tackles and drive the ball forward to kick 3 magnificent goals in a low scoring match.
The backline held firm all day and was led by Mick Hughes who stopped many of the Kats forward thrusts and drove the ball long out of defence.
Jaxon Raven and Harvey Thomson also played well to hold the ball in the forward line to create opportunities.
Tungamah coach Paul Sidebottom said he was extremely proud of his team.
“They worked so hard for this, like really worked hard,” Sidebottom said.
“There was a lot of training, a lot of injuries through the year and we had five kids miss out that could’ve made the team.
“But it’s just exceptional.”
Sidebottom said it was the pressure that got the Bears over the line, with a couple of players standing up at the right time.
“We sort of took over the ball and controlled it a little bit,” he said.
Beau Cummins and Nathan Weir gave great drive in the ruck giving the Bears first use of the ball and defending well around the ground.
Axel Doherty used his size and strength and kicked 2 important goals to finish off a solid season.
It was a great team effort with all players contributing towards the win to take home the premiership cup.
Coach Paul Sidebottom, Assistant Coach Dave True, team runner Joel Whinray and team manager Jeff Goldman are proud of the boys efforts throughout the season and were as excited as the players at the final siren.
Thanks to trainers Kevin Hayes, Ray Saunders and Allan Ogilvie and all the volunteers who helped throughout the season.