Tongala’s Cameron Ilett pulls down the Eagles’ Riley Mason.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Tongala staged one of its great fightbacks in recent history to notch its fifth win for the season in its round 14 Murray Football League clash with Echuca United at Tongala on Saturday.
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The Blues were lagging by 33 points at the main break, but kicked nine second-half goals to the visitors’ three to steal the win by four points, 11.7 to 10.9.
‘‘We were hopeless in the first half,’’ Tongala skipper Kyle Fitzgerald said when summing up the morale-boosting win.
Brady Simpson and Bailey Waasdorp tussle for possession.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
‘‘We hit the front in the last quarter against the wind, but then had to dig deep to hold them off when they’re coming at us hard in the last half of the final quarter.“
Fitzgerald and Jordan Souter, Jack Hammond, Sam Cipriani, who kicked three vital goals, Alex Williams, Bailey Waasdorp and Cam Ilett led the Tongala fightback in inspiring displays.
But Fitzgerald said every Tongala player lifted to execute the momentum swing.
“We put ourselves under pressure early by not capitalising on the wind advantage in the first term, so got ourselves into the predicament we were in,” he said.
Tongala’s Sam Cipriani is dragged down by Jordan Hutton.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
“But to come back from where we did was a credit to all the players.”
There was also a touch of revenge in the win, as Echuca United pipped Tongala by three points in the opening round of the season.
Ryan Stobaus and Kyle Fitzgerald fly.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Blues host premiership hopeful Cobram this Saturday in another big test.
In the first round of the season Tongala surprised Cobram, but the Blues know they will need to play at or near their best to repeat the dose.
Tristan Watson pushes off Nicholas McKenner.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
In the reserves, the Blues got a solid win over the Eagles, clipping their wings to draw level with Mulwala and Numurkah in the bottom half of the finals bracket.
Tongala’s Mitch Heywood was clinical, nailing four majors to lift his side to a 7.11 (53) to 4.4 (28) victory.
Jack Hammond boots one.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
It was a clean sweep in round 14 for the Blues, with the under-17s escaping with a one-goal win over Echuca United in a thriller.
Tongala trailed for three quarters before holding the Eagles scoreless down the stretch and getting over the top, 7.7 (49) to 6.7 (43).
Kyle Halliwell on the move.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Jedd Turpin earned best-on-ground honours for his work in attack, nailing six majors.
Kyle Fitzgerald with the high handball.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
