Sport

Moama survives a Hawks swooping

By Alexander Dabb

May 12, 2024

Impactful: Tom Holman (pictured in round five against Tongala) has made a brilliant start to life as a Magpie, kicking four goals as Moama’s best in the narrow win over Barooga at the weekend. Photo: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

Moama has escaped a scare against a winless Barooga outfit to clinch a narrow five-point victory in round six of the Murray Football League.

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Travelling to take on the Hawks at Barooga Recreation Reserve, the Magpies entered as heavy favourites, but only just managed to emerge victorious, prevailing 8.8 (56) to 7.9 (51) and denying Barooga its first win of the year.

Plagued by errant goalkicking at times this season, Moama was unable to find the middle of the big sticks at all in the first term, kicking 0.3 for the quarter, while Barooga managed 1.4 to take a seven-point lead into the first break.

The visitors found their stride in the second term, however, getting things rolling and slamming home four goals to two, taking a 29 to 25 lead into the main break.

The tense, low-scoring affair stayed that way after half-time, with neither of the two sides able to make a decisive move.

Moama won the third term — by a single point — to extend its half-time lead to five points at the final change, which would be the same margin at the final siren as the two sides went score for score in the final term.

The recruiting of Tom Holman is proving to be somewhat of a masterstroke from the brains trust at Moama, with the key-position player instrumental in the win once again, booting a game-high four goals as the Magpies’ best player.

James Whitehead continued his solid start to the season with another appearance in the best, as did Liam Barrett who, like Holman, has made a sizeable impact after joining the club in the offseason.

Co-captains Jordan Ives and Jack Russell (one goal) led from the front to be named among the most influential, while Jack Sheldon rounded out the best.

Danny Brewster, Joshua Pell and Fraser Verhey all made contributions on the scoreboard, ending the afternoon with one major each.

The gritty win for Moama means it finishes the round comfortably in second spot on the ladder following other results around the league.

Congupna’s loss to Finley ensures the Magpies are second only by percentage, with both Moama and The Road possessing a 5-1 record, with a pack of five teams behind all locked on 4-2.

The next fortnight perhaps presents the biggest test for Moama so far this season, and if all goes to plan, could see the Magpies stake their claim as the outright premiership favourites.

Next weekend will see Moama travel to take on Nathalia, who has made a positive start to the season to sit atop the cluster of teams with a 4-2 record in third, before a massive clash with Congupna at Moama Recreation Reserve in round eight.

If Moama wins both of those games it would find itself at least a game clear out in front approaching the half-way point of the season.

There’s still plenty to play out, but if Moama can maintain its momentum over the next fortnight, it would not be outlandish to suggest it is the team to beat come September.