Borthers Wil and Hugh Hamilton celebrate a goal during Rochester’s win over Echuca.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
There’s nothing like a big win over an old rival to lift your spirits, so it’s a pretty sure bet that the Rochester faithful will be in a jovial mood this week, having faced just about the toughest fortnight the Goulburn Valley League football fixture could have thrown at it.
Rochester’s Mitch Trewhella clears the stoppage under pressure from Echuca’s Luke Edwards.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
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Having been blown out of the water in the final term against unbeaten Kyabram in round 10, a trip up the Northern Hwy on Saturday to face arch rival Echuca loomed as a pivotal point in the Tigers’ season.
But Ash Watson’s troops proved up for the challenge, producing a stunning second term to walk away with a 13.8 (86) to 7.10 (52) win at Victoria Park, the second successive season they have taken bragging rights away from the rivalry on the Murray Bombers’ home turf.
Rochester’s Hamish Hooppell gets his kick away as Echuca’s Sam Reid closes in.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
There was perhaps an extra layer to the storied history between the foes on Saturday, too, with both sides firmly in contention for a shot at the premiership this season, lending even more hype to what is always a passionate affair.
Rochester drew first blood through Kyle Waters, which Echuca countered through Tighe O’Brien, with the two sides trading goals before the visitor snuck ahead to end the first term, with Waters slotting his second to give Rochester a 19-14 lead at the first break.
Rochester’s Mitch Trewhella and Echuca skipper Mitch Wales clash, with the pair named their respective side’s best player.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
The afternoon looked set to descend into a low-scoring slog, but the Tigers emerged from the huddle with vigour, slotting the first three of the second term to open up a 25-point advantage.
Echuca countered with the next two in quick succession to close the gap to two straight kicks, but bustling Rochester midfielder Mitch Trewhella returned serve, kick-starting another run of three Tiger goals to end the half, as the visitors extended the margin to 31 points at the main break.
Rochester’s Drew Lloyd tries to find a way out of congestion.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
The Murray Bombers needed a spark after half-time to claw back the deficit and when talismanic forward Hugh Byrne put his first of the afternoon through the middle to open the second half, it looked as though it could have been the lift the home side required.
While it did manage to win the term, Echuca cut into Rochester’s lead by two points, with Byrne’s major the home side’s only goal for the term, which the Tigers matched to maintain a 29-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Rochester ruckman Nash Ramage wins the hit-out over Echuca’s Jai Milligan.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
It was goal-for-goal again to start the final term, with the Murray Bombers managing a goal either side of a Rochester pair, but a Hugh Hamilton goal, his fourth and the final major of the contest, to extend the lead to a game-high 36 points put the icing on top of a strong Tigers performance on the road, coming away with an eventual 34-point triumph.
Rochester’s Cooper Hamilton takes a strong mark overhead.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Trewhella was named best-on in the win as he continues to add to what has been a stunning start to the year, joined by Port Melbourne VFL alumnus Drew Lloyd in his third senior appearance for the season, while Bailey Wileman, Hamish Hooppell and skipper Wil Hamilton (three goals) also impressed.
Rochester teammates mob Hunter Wileman following a goal.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
The win is a positive return to form for Rochester after being there or thereabouts for the first three terms against Kyabram before a disastrous eight-goal-to-zero final term, leaving its record against the top two sides at 1-1 across the past fortnight.
More importantly, the Tigers keep hold of third and improve their overall record to 10-2 for the season, moving level with second-placed Echuca on points, with three per cent between them, as they hit the final third of the season with some momentum.
Rochester will host Mooroopna this weekend at Moon Oval, the first weekend of the split round 13, as it looks to notch win number 11, while Echuca will look to bounce back from the loss when it hosts Euroa at Victoria Park.
