Echuca picks up where it left off in big win over Mansfield

By Alexander Dabb

Mar 31, 2024

Day out: Angus Byrne was in fine form at the weekend, booting six goals in Echuca’s big win over Mansfield. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Echuca has started its Goulburn Valley League flag defence in fine fashion against Mansfield, storming home to comfortably account for the Eagles by 82 points at Mansfield Recreation Reserve.

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The standalone Easter Saturday fixture to kick-start the GVL season was well controlled by the Murray Bombers throughout, putting the foot down in the second half to cruise away to a 20.14 (134) to 7.10 (52) win.

Echuca garnered seven scoring shots to five in the first term to take a seven-point lead into the quarter-time huddle, before a four-goal-to-one second quarter had the reigning premier enter the main break 26 points to the good.

It would be in the third term that Echuca put the game beyond the grasp of the Eagles, however, booting 7.5 to 2.4 to stretch the margin to 57 at the final break, before another dominant quarter enabled the Murray Bombers to romp to the eventual 82-point win.

Logan Prout and Cameron Valentine were among the best for the bottle greens across half-back, while Angus Byrne was prominent up forward, kicking six goals in a formidable display.

Ruckman Kane Morris was also influential, as was Cooper Willoughby, while Tighe O’Brien kicked three goals to also earn a spot in the best.

Nine individual goal-kickers highlighted the even contribution from across the ground for Echuca, with Matt Lias (3), Hugh Byrne (2) and Liam Tenace (2) joining Byrne and O’Brien as multiple goal-kickers.

Jack Evans, Jack McHale, Callum Parsons and Sam Reid also found the middle of the big sticks, each kicking one major.

For Mansfield, only Riley Northcott managed multiple goals, snagging two, with five others each contributing one goal.

Echuca will play its first game at home when round one proper starts this weekend, hosting Shepparton United at Victoria Park on Saturday, while Mansfield will travel to Deakin Reserve as it takes on Shepparton.