As the regular season enters its final weeks, the Murray Bombers put together a composed defensive performance on Sunday, keeping Nathalia to just seven points at Nathalia Recreation Reserve.
Echuca cruised to the win, putting on 59 points, but will look to tighten up its goal-kicking after a hit-and-miss 7.17 score breakdown.
The Purples were kept scoreless throughout the first half, and the Murray Bombers had their chances to put the game away quickly, but nine behinds and only two goals before half-time kept Nathalia in range.
Echuca improved its accuracy after the main break, kicking a further five majors to put the game to bed, 7.17 (59) to 1.1 (7).
Sienna Lee has been a confident goalscorer for the defending champion through 2025, and put together her biggest haul so far with four to top Echuca’s efforts.
Coach Kate Dixon added two, and Tori Russell topped off the scoring with one in a best-on-ground performance for the Murray Bombers.
Abby Favaro sniped Nathalia’s lone major.
Just two rounds remain in the women’s competition, with action to resume on July 19 after a week off.
The Murray Bombers will take on Barooga at Victoria Park before concluding the regular season in a likely grand final preview against Shepparton United.
The Demons are the undefeated competition leaders and handed Echuca its only defeat when the sides met on May 16.
That blockbuster clash will be held on Saturday, July 25, following on from the Echuca senior men’s home game against Benalla.
Girls
Moama regained bragging rights over cross-border rivals Echuca United, at least until the end of the regular season, winning the third encounter between the teams on Sunday.
After the two previous meetings were both Eagles home games, the Magpies got their opportunity to host the clash on a wet Moama Recreation Reserve.
The slow conditions were prohibitive to goal-scoring in the first half, and while Moama was winning the midfield battle and breaking into the attacking 50 more often, the host was only able to squeeze through seven minor scores by half-time.
The Eagles were also kept goalless in the first half, but Moama’s fortunes would be the ones to change after the main break.
Maisy Byrne found the Pies’ first major early in the third quarter, and Ruby McLeod would add one of her own in the period.
McLeod followed with two more in the final term, helping Moama to a hard-fought 4.10 (34) to 0.2 (2) win.
With the win, Moama takes the 2-1 head-to-head lead over the 2024 champions after also prevailing 6.4 (40) to 3.3 (21) in round four.
United got one back just two weeks ago, winning 3.5 (23) to 2.4 (16) in round 12.
With Moama suffering no other defeats outside the head-to-head, and United having just one, the smart money would point to a local showdown in the grand final.
Before the post-season, Echuca United has a catch-up fixture from round one ahead this Sunday, the Eagles visiting Nathalia, while the rest of the league takes a bye.
United then sees Nathalia again the following week in a regularly scheduled confrontation before concluding the regular season against Barooga.
Moama will face the Hawks on July 20, before finishing against Shepparton United.
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