Nico McKinley booted six goals in a best-on-ground performance for Rushworth against Girgarre. Photos: Jordan Townrow
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JORDAN TOWNROW
The goal umpires that officiated the Kyabram District League senior football clash between Rushworth and Girgarre might be reaching for the Voltaren following the round 17 contest — having to crane your head skyward on 47 occasions is bound to leave you with a stiff neck.
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Spectators at Ironbark Stadium were treated to the highest aggregate score of the season on Saturday, with a ridiculous 47 majors kicked over the goal umpires’ hats, as Rushworth earned itself a 162-point victory.
Girgarre’s Luke Chapman and Rushworth’s Dylan Arnold contest a mark.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Tigers claimed a mammoth 36.16 (232) to 11.4 (70) victory over the Roos to move a game clear of seventh-placed Stanhope, however, with a percentage of 150.36 – nearly 60 per cent better than the Lions — have all but ensured their spot in the post season.
Things got off to a relatively slow start, with a six-goal opening term to the Tigers putting them ahead 40-14 at quarter-time, but things were kicked into overdrive as the home side found its range in the second term.
Rushworth’s Ryan Beale booted seven goals in the big win for the Tigers.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
A ridiculous 11 majors for the quarter, while restricting Girgarre to three goals, meant Rushworth crossed the 100-point threshold before half-time, extending its lead to 76 points at the main break with the scoreboard reading 17.7 (109) to 5.3 (33).
Scoring continued at a steady rate as the two sides emerged after the break, with Rushworth firing another eight majors through the middle of the big sticks, with the Roos mustering three, widening the gap to 113 points with a full quarter still to play.
Paul Vavlitis led the way for the Tigers with a game-high eight majors.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Tigers didn’t let up, either, recording another monster haul of 11 goals in the final term, while again restricting the visitors to three goals, as they put the finishing touches on a dominant performance.
Thomas Stevens finished the afternoon with a handful of goals for the Tigers, however, it wasn’t enough to even get him on the podium, with Paul Vavlitis (8 goals), Ryan Beale (7) and Nico McKinley (6) finishing with hauls of six or more in the goal-fest, while Tighe Clarke and Riley Edwards added three each as the other multiple goal-scorers.
Steven Phillips booted a goal for Girgarre in the loss.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
McKinley, Vavlitis and Beale led the way in the best, too, following the exploits in front of the sticks, while Manning Hetherton, Liam Adlington (one goal) and Liam Francis rounded out the most influential.
In the other round 17 clash, Lancaster kept the possibility of a minor premiership alive with a 17.18 (120) to 7.9 (51) victory over Avenel at Avenel Recreation Reserve.
Girgarre’s Luke Chapman collects the ball under pressure from Rushworth’s Nicolas Collins and Ethan Arnold.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
The Wombats held the lead from first whistle to final siren, however, it took a punishing third term to really separate the two sides, as the Swans did their best to hang in during the opening half.
The visitors found themselves 19 points ahead at quarter-time courtesy of a five-goal-to-two opening term, however, Avenel was able to get the game back on somewhat level terms in the second quarter to remain within touching distance at half-time, limiting the deficit to 25 points at the main break.
Rushworth’s Liam Adlington and Girgarre’s Harry Browning-Briese fight it out in the ruck.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
But it was all Lancaster after half-time, with the premiership contender putting the game to bed in the premiership quarter in a devastating display.
The Wombats denied Avenel any score, while slamming home 7.6 for the term, as the margin grew to 73 points by three-quarter time in a ruthless showing against a lesser opponent befitting of a contender.
However, to their credit the Swans salvaged some pride by winning the final term, outscoring Lancaster by four points, although with the job done and dusted the Wombats may have put the cue in the rack with one eye on finals.
Level on points with reigning premier Murchison-Toolamba at the top of the ladder, the minor premiership is still an outside possibility for the Wombats heading into their round 18 clash with Stanhope, although they would need to erase the deficit of nearly 20 per cent that currently separates them from the Hoppers.
