Echuca United cruised to a victory over Congupna in its latest Murray Netball League fixture.
Echuca United recorded the second win of its Murray Netball League season by cruising to a 31-goal victory over Congupna at Congupna Recreation Reserve.
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The Eagles were in total control right from the off, racing out to an 18-7 lead at the first interval.
The first period saw the away side’s best attacking output, with defence being its staple in the second as Echuca United held The Road to four goals in the quarter to hold a 32-11 half-time lead.
The Eagles’ scoring slowed after the main break, adding another 20 goals across the third and fourth periods, but their rearguard continued to be a tough nut for Congupna to crack.
The host added 10 more to its tally in the second half as Echuca United’s well-rounded display culminated in a dominant 52-21 win.
Eliza Pearce and Tiah Hooppell were the main contributors in the goal scoring department for the Eagles, who are now ninth on the ladder and have the same number of wins as eighth-placed Cobram.
Next up, Leesa Hooppell’s side will be favoured to earn a third win in four matches when second-bottom Finley visits Echuca South Recreation Reserve.
Mulwala v Tongala
Tongala had a two-goal lead heading into the fourth quarter, but wasn’t able to hold off a resurgence from second-placed Mulwala.
Tongala was left to wonder what could have been after it let a second-half lead slip against fellow finals contender Mulwala.
The Blues started to take control of the clash at Lonsdale Recreation Reserve when they finished the third period strongly, scoring six of the last seven goals to lead 43-41 heading into the fourth.
But the Lions returned serve immediately to open the fourth quarter, netting eight of the first 10 to re-establish the four-goal advantage they held at various points of the first half.
Tongala kept within touching distance right until the end, trailing 54-51 with a minute to play.
The Blues couldn’t find the extra gear required to pull off what would have been a big away win, Mulwala finishing Tongala off with the game’s final three goals to prevail 57-51.
Milly Brock put in another strong showing in the defeat, scoring 34 of the visitor’s 51 goals.
The clash was a thriller, particularly in the first half, with the two sides almost exactly trading goal for goal, setting up intrigue around their next match on August 8 at Tongala Recreation Reserve, and about the possibility of a meeting come finals time.
Despite the strong effort away to the second-placed Lions, the loss for Tongala means it has dropped two of its past three matches, and the Blues have been locked into fourth on the ladder for the past few weeks.
But Abby Pettifer’s team will be favoured for its next game, a home clash against a Cobram side that hasn’t won since round three.
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