The Murray and Picola & District League season should have been edging toward two months of play this weekend, but instead our football fields and netball courts have been empty due to Coronavirus restrictions.
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To ensure our readers can still get their weekly fix of football in particular, McPherson Media sports journalists have been bringing you Best Battles.
Best Battles takes you to the most important duel, result or individual performance between the teams that would have met at the weekend if the season had continued as planned.
Tocumwal v Yarroweyah
Round seven, 2014 at Yarroweyah
Yarroweyah 10.5 (65) lt Tocumwal 15.18 (108)
Nine big ones from Dylan Flanagan proved the difference when Tocumwal and Yarroweyah met in the Picola league for the first time.
The Bloods were four points ahead at half-time, but lifted in a massive way for the third quarter, with 4.8 in the term helping them pick up a four-goal lead they would not surrender, eventually winning by 43 points.
Flanagan’s haul stole the headlines, his biggest game of the season on his way to 74 majors for the campaign.
Other stars were Michael O’Riordan, Steven Poynton and Ken Chellew, while the best Hoppers were Lucas Olson (five goals), Ben Soule and Jonathan Slatterie.
Deniliquin Rovers v Berrigan
Round one, 2010 at Deniliquin
Deniliquin Rovers 8.6 (54) lt Berrigan 8.14 (62)
A final-quarter rampage had Berrigan begin its 2010 campaign with a narrow win against rival Deniliquin.
Three goals behind at three-quarter time, the Saints peppered the Rovers’ goal with 3.9 in the last and grappled their way to the comeback win, prevailing by eight points away from home.
The Rovers seemed poised for a statement win after slotting six goals in the third term, but they could not withstand the Berrigan pressure when it came in the last.
Sam Nevins and Stuart Pyle finished with two goals each for the Saints and Gerard Robinson was the match’s other multiple goal-kicker with three for the Rovers.
The win helped the Saints to third on the ladder that season.
Katunga v Picola United
Round 11, 2018 at Picola
Picola United 18.15 (123) d Katunga 2.4 (16)
Coaches are always looking for an even performance, and Picola coach Jon Varcoe got more than he bargained for against the Swans.
Almost half of Picola’s team found its way onto the goal-kickers list, but it was Dylan Cunningham who led the way with seven as United entertained the 1978 reserves premiership side.
It was a reasonably consistent performance over the day. We don’t really care who kicks them its more about getting an even spread of goals and posting a winning score as a team,” Varcoe said.
‘‘But (Cunningham) performed well and he has been playing well over the season.”
Blighty v Strathmerton
Preliminary final, 2017 at Berrigan Recreation Reserve
Strathmerton 11.11 (77) d Blighty 10.11 (71)
What a classic match this was between two heavyweights of the north-west conference in 2017.
Blighty began the match in stellar fashion, leading at the first break by 13 points, and continued that dominance throughout the second term.
The Redeyes had all the answers and opened a 22-point buffer at half-time.
Blighty was staring at a grand final berth at the final break of the contest with a lead of eight points but a remarkable last quarter effort from Strathmerton ended the hopes of all Redeyes fans.
The Bulldogs held Blighty to its lowest quarter score in the last term, kicking 3.3 to 2.1, to run out winners by seven points.
Daniel Ellis and Matt Shannon were Strathy’s best, while Lenard Clarke and Jack Tyndall waved the flag for Blighty.
Waaia v Rennie
Preliminary final, 2018 at Strathmerton
Rennie 10.6 (66) d Waaia 10.5 (65)
A Duane Rhodes floater with seconds on the clock booked Rennie a spot in the 2018 Picola league grand final, beating Waaia by the narrowest of margins.
In a modern day classic, the undefeated Bombers turned for home seven points to the good and extended that lead to 13 points early in the last, but the underdog Hoppers found the game’s last two goals, and a flurry of behinds, to pinch the victory.
Brad Murray was exceptional and quarter-backed the upset, impressing along with Craig Ednie and Dean Bigger.
For Waaia, it ended the season with one loss by a solitary point and would suffer more heartbreak the next year with a grand final loss to Strathmerton.
Jerilderie v Katamatite
Round 14, 2019 at Jerilderie
Jerilderie 6.2 (38) lt Katamatite 9.10 (64)
Accurate kicking for goal kept the Demons in this one early, booting five straight to 4.6 in the first half.
But from there the Tigers took control, grinding their way to a 26-point triumph on the back of six goals from Brodie McDonald and a dominant performance from John Woodcock.
Nick Parker snared three for the home side in defeat.
Echuca United v Finley
Round 19, 2013 at Finley Recreation Reserve
Finley 11.9 (75) lt Echuca United 12.5 (77)
When the Cats and Eagles clashed in the latter stages of the season, both were simply flying as they sat in the top three and it showed.
In a thrilling contest, United came from behind in the final term to win by two points.
Farran Priest starred with five majors, but Justin Saker was the hero as he kicked the match-winner.
From our end we couldn’t do much more, coach Scott Beattie said.
Its looking clear well finish second, but we havent lost to Mulwala or Finley, which is pleasing.
Tungamah v Nathalia
Round nine, 2018 at Tungamah
Nathalia 27.8 (170) d Tungamah 11.10 (76)
Tungamah hasn’t found adjusting to life against the Murray league’s big dogs particularly easy, smashed in both its encounters against Nathalia since joining the league.
Its first meeting had it narrowly avoid the triple-figure margin with a 94-point loss, the Purples flexing their muscle in trademark fashion particularly in a 17-goal second half.
The Purples queued up for snags with Brodie Ross (10 goals), Adam Jorgensen (six) and Brett Vallender (four) slotting a lazy 20 between them.
The Bears’ next clash with the Purples was much of the same, beaten by 130 points last season.
Katandra v Cobram
Round five, 2019 at Scott Oval
Cobram 15.17 (107) d Katandra 11.4 (70)
Last year’s contest at Cobram’s Scott Oval was a rollicking, tight affair right up to the final term until Cobram ran away with the match.
Katandra only trailed the Tigers by one-point at the final break, but a six-goal-to-one last quarter helped the hosts seal a 37-point victory.
The Kats started the match in superb fashion and held a five-goal lead over Cobram after the opening term.
But Cobram responded with five majors in the second quarter to gain ascendency at half-time, which it held on to for the remainder of the contest.
Cobram’s Steve Stallion was on fire with five goals, while Izac Artavilla and Nick Wines gave strong contributions.
Brady Black (three goals), Xavier Chalkley and Trent Herbert were the standouts for Katandra.
Numurkah v Deniliquin
Round 12, 2013 at Hardinge St Oval
Deniliquin 14.6 (90) lt Numurkah 17.14 (116)
In the 2013 season, less than one per cent split these two outfits on the ladder and the round 12 contest was an absolute cracker.
Numurkah held the upper hand throughout the opening half, holding an 11-point lead at the main break.
But Deniliquin bounced back strongly in the third term and kicked five goals to three, as the home side wrestled back control of the contest.
The stage was set for a grand finish to the contest and it was the Blues — led by Mitch Jones and a young Nick Fothergill (two goals) — that fell across the line with six goals in the last quarter.
Nick Howe and Lachlan Macdonald were the stars for Rams, while Troy Bartlett booted three majors for the home side.
Barooga v Tongala
Round 12, 2012 at Barooga Recreation Reserve
Barooga 17.11 (113) d Tongala 11.14 (80)
It was a battle of two of the lower sides in the competition on this day in 2012, with the Hawks being guided to a big win by five Jeremy Stevenson goals.
The game was a tight contest at the first break, with the Blues leading by two points, before Barooga quickly ran away with the game.
Five goals in the second and six goals in the third put the game beyond doubt, with Barooga’s 33-point lead at three-quarter time still intact at the end of the day.
Adam Lovison was the best for the Blues, while Sean Ellis was the star for the Hawks.
Congupna v Moama
Round nine, 2018 at Moama Recreation Reserve
Moama 12.12 (84) lt Congupna 17.9 (111)
Three goals each from Rhys Archard and Angus Grigg was not enough for Moama to get on the road to victory.
Sam Ferguson kicked four in a best afield showing as Congupna claimed the win against the Magpies in their own nest, with his teammates combining for 17 majors on the day.
Moama’s inability to kick goals outside of Grigg, Archard and Tyler Jones in 2018 again caused problems, with the three combining for eight of the teams 12 majors in the loss.
Congupna would only pick up five wins for the season, but this loss would have huge ramifications for the Magpies, who would end up missing out on eighth spot to their local rival
Echuca United on percentage.
Rumbalara v Mulwala
Round 17, 2017 at Lonsdale Reserve
Mulwala 12.23 (95) d Rumbalara 12.9 (81)
This match should have been done and dusted in the first half an hour but Rumbalara was able to keep pushing Mulwala all the way to the final siren.
The Lions kicked 4.13 in the first quarter alone before finishing with 12.23, while 5.5 to Rumba in the last stanza sent plenty of nerves jangling around Lonsdale Reserve.
Ash Froud ended the contest with five majors, while Charles Jackson was Rumbas best.