Tocumwal took on the ladder leaders in Mulwala in their Murray League clash on Saturday.
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Although the score may not have reflected the effort, the boys fought hard and kept the endeavour and tackling pressure up for most of the day.
It was great to see some young local boys starting to get some form.
Final score: Tocumwal 6.5 (41) lost to Mulwala 27.14 (176).
Goals: Mitch Collins Bye 2, Kade Rowe 2, Charles McKenna, Raymond Sutton.
Best: Kade Rowe, Mitch Collins Bye, Blair Eddy, Jordan Lavis, Connor Crowley, Brock McCabe.
Awards: 1st Incentive - Blair Eddy; 2nd Incentive - Connor Crowley; 3rd Incentive - Jeremy Cardillo.
Coming off a more competitive effort the previous week, the reserves had every reason to feel confident going into their clash against Mulwala.
A few late changes to the side and the overcast conditions saw the boys a little flat in the warm up. It showed in the first quarter with Mulwala running riot, scoring an accurate 9.2 in a one-way affair.
The Bloods had no answer around the ball or down back.
With a few changes at the first break, and a focus on getting a few more numbers behind the ball to stem the flow, the Bloods had a bit more success.
Drew Eddy moved closer to the footy and had an immediate impact around the contest.
The bigger bodies around the ball were able to give Jesse Colston, Glynn Matters and Chris Stott a bit more advantage in the midfield and slowed the scoring.
Mulwala kicking four goals to one in the second term with Colston scoring a great snap for the Bloods to get them on the board.
A few injuries to some key backmen in the second half saw Mulwala find consistency on the scoreboard, gaining 12 second half goals to run out convincing winners in a very polished affair.
Despite the lopsided score, the game was played in good spirit with the Toc boys still holding their heads high despite the heavy loss.
No doubt Mulwala will be a very competitive side at the pointy end of the season.
Final score: Tocumwal 1.1 (7) lt Mulwala 25.8 (158).
Goals: Jesse Colston.
Best: Chris Stott, Glyn Matters, Glenn Braybon, Jesse Colston, Drew Eddy, Peter Harrison.
Awards: 1st Incentive - Chris Stott; Farmers Arms Hotel award - Glynn Matters; Baldwin’s Farms Thursday night dinner award - Ash Scott; Baldwin’s Buses Thursday night dinner award - Corey Herezo; IGA voucher - Peter Harrison.
The thirds boys came out and got off to a slow start and let Mulwala get their game up and running.
At quarter time the boys re-grouped and started to play their style of footy, and slowed Mulwala’s scoring.
The talking pressure and commitment have been a focus point the last few weeks, and it started to show.
Final score: Tocumwal 1.3 (9) lt Mulwala 17.18 (120).
Goals: Liam Sutton.
Best: Nate Grieves, Jirra Letcher, Hunter Groutsch, Liam Sutton, Logan White, Liam Purtill.
Awards: Ed Thompson $20 award - Nate Grieves; Wingates $10 award - Liam Purtill; Palmer Excavations award - Logan White; Foreshore Café award - Will O’Connell.
The fourths knew it was going to be a tough hit out against a strong Mulwala side.
Mulwala got off to a quick start, but our boys never gave up and were hard at it trying to get the ball moving our way.
We had a few close chances but unfortunately we could not get on the scoreboard.
The backline did a stellar job making sure the Mulwala forwards never got an easy ball.
Archie Chellew read the ball well all day with Sean Lykissas and Charlie Wilson getting in on the action.
It wouldn’t be a write up if we didn’t mention Jake Hicks, Cooper Quick, Chace Brunskill and Harrison Wilson giving their all for four quarters.
The boys are to be commended on the way they played out the game and never dropped their heads.
Final score: Tocumwal 0.0 (0) lt Mulwala 18.20 (128).
Best: Jake Hicks, Cooper Quick, Chace Brunskill, Harrison Wilson, Archie Chellew, Sean Lykissas.
Awards: Ice Creamery award - Judd Haebich; Donny Tainton $10 Canteen voucher - Kade Campbell; Paul Quick and Peter Absolom $10 award - Jake Hicks; Toc News and Lotto - Sean Lykissas.
The weeks are flying by for the Friday night under-12s, and the improvement is outstanding.
Final score: Tocumwal 0.0 (0) lt Tigers 8.7 (55).
Awards: Cinema award - Lewis Petersen; Intersport award - Banjo Boake; $5 cash award - Ashton Taylor.
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