There was an air of tension between the two sides at Moon Oval. The Tigers knew that if they could topple Echuca again, it would send a strong message to their rival and the rest of Goulburn Valley League.
Meanwhile, it was a matter of pride for the men in green, who were out to redeem a surprising loss earlier in the season and prove they are all but assured a flag in 2024.
This pressure bled into the game, where the Murray Bombers were given ample opportunity to take a dominant first-quarter lead but could not kick straight, notching five behinds in the first term.
The Tigers only needed one chance to get on the board in the final minutes of the first quarter, thanks to some handy work by Grant Fuller, while also collecting a behind to take a narrow two-point lead at the quarter-time siren.
Following the break, the Murray Bombers came out firing. Unwilling to relive their round-5 nightmare, they kicked five goals and a pair of behinds while holding Rochester to 1.1, capturing the lead by 25 at the half.
Echuca got straight back to where it left off in the third term, kicking five more goals and just as many behinds, with the Tigers struggling to keep up, adding 1.2 to their total.
Rochester had its most productive period in the final frame, notching a pair of goals and behinds, but the Murray Bombers also had their most productive stretch, bagging six goals and a couple of behinds to run away with the game.
Despite its best efforts, Rochester 5.6 (36) fell to Echuca 16.14 (110).
In what was anticipated to be a close contest, the Murray Bombers proved that they can weather any storm, cruising to a 74-point victory, reaffirming their untouchable status in the GVL.
Captain Kane Morris led from the front for Echuca again, kicking a hat-trick of maximums.
It was a win by committee for the Murray Bombers with four men in green kicking a pair each including Hugh Byrne, Ben Reid, Riley Smith and Liam Tenace.
Morris and Ben Reid were joined by Sam Willoughby, Jack McHale and Sam Reid, among Echuca’s best.
Echuca has a well-earned break in round 17 before travelling to Shepparton to face the Swans in their last game before the finals.
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