It was a contest that promised to shape the Kyabram District League’s hierarchy when Lancaster and Murchison-Toolamba went to battle.
The stakes were high indeed; as many as half a dozen other teams were waiting on who would drop four points in hopes of making a move towards the top.
Sure enough, they would be made to wait to the very end of a tussle between the two early form sides in the league this year — and at the end of the day, nobody technically got what they wanted.
A five-goal opening term saw things headed the home side’s way as the two-time defending premiers got right on top early.
Facing genuine adversity for the first time in 2024, Murchison-Toolamba went about setting things back on course and doggedly held the Wombats scoreless in the second term, itself an exceedingly rare feat.
The Grasshoppers could have led by plenty more than six points at the main break, but a generally wasteful output of 3.8 squandered what could have been a commanding advantage.
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Hard-fought contest: Murchison-Toolamba's Jayedon Hexter and Lancaster's Daniel Foley. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 7
Umpire's ball: Lancaster's Noah Sewell and Murchison-Toolamba's Joshua Wild. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 7
Going for distane: Murchison-Toolamba's Aidan Lloyd. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 7
Gathering in space: Murchison-Toolamba's Aaron Miller. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 7
On the boot: Murchison-Toolamba's Kallyun Sanders. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 7
Quick hands: Lancaster's Oliver McAuliffe. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 7
Pressure is on: Murchison-Toolamba's Jayedon Hexter and Lancaster's Daniel Foley. Photo by Rechelle ZammitThe game opened right up after half-time as both sides adopted more aggressive stances, with Lancaster’s Tannar Cerrone (five goals) and James Lloyd (four) emerging as duelling spearheads.
The screws were tightened right back up for the final half-hour of play as scoring ground to a near-halt once more with pressure lifting everywhere.
Sure enough, a titanic clash would end without a winner as Lancaster’s 11.5 (71) was only enough to draw with Murchison-Toolamba’s 10.11 (71).
Wombats coach Tom Davies suggested the outcome was a fair one.
“Either side could have won, but both sides had momentum for large periods of the game,” Davies said.
“In the end, it was probably a just result.
“We said before the game that we needed to start well, but they’re a class side, so we had to reassess at half time.
“We talked about taking it back up to them, and nobody really came out on top in that second half.”
In the most literal sense possible, Davies’ words were true.
That said, preserving ladder positions aside, there are still lessons to take from this stalemate.
“We’ll take confidence out of it that we’re going okay,” Davies said.
“With any close game, there’ll be things you need to work on.
“We’ll go away and take a look at a couple of those things, and hopefully we’ll improve on them as the season goes on.”
The sides who came into the weekend first and second miraculously left the same way after fellow undefeated team Avenel came off second best for the first time this year.
The Swans were undone by fellow high-flying outfit Shepparton East, who prevailed by 17 points to level both sides’ records out at 4-1, each two points behind the Wombats and Grasshoppers.
Tallygaroopna made a giant showing of its own fourth win, smashing Violet Town with the highest score seen in the league so far this year in a 34.17 (221) to 2.2 (14) mauling.
Nagambie restored a positive ledger in moving to three wins for the year in a 72-point thumping of Girgarre, while Longwood produced a result to savour in notching its maiden victory of 2024, knocking over Merrigum by 10 points.
In Sunday’s action, Stanhope joined Nagambie at 12 points and snatched sixth spot back for now with a tidy 36-point victory over bottom-placed Undera.
Results for the clash between Dookie United and Rushworth in the other Sunday clash were not available at press time.