Echuca was forced to fend off a determined Shepparton Swans in round 14 of the Goulburn Valley League, but a big haul from ruckman Liam Tenace helped the Murray Bombers keep their season rolling.
Tenace ran rampant with eight goals in the face of a stern first-half challenge from the Swans, led by Zac Banch and Joeve Cooper at Princess Park.
A six-goal first quarter handed the Murray Bombers a fast start but the Swans responded with five in the second to trail by just one goal at half-time.
But for the second time in as many weeks, the Murray Bombers hit the afterburners in the second half.
After torching Kyabram in the final half last week, Echuca slammed home 11 goals to Shepparton’s two in the second half, with Tenace, Cameron Valentine and Hugh Byrne inspiring the Murray Bombers to a 62-point win, their 13th of the season.
It’s another positive step in Echuca’s quest for back-to-back flags, with the Murray Bombers remaining atop the GVL ladder, tied on wins with Seymour in second place.
Kyabram fell two games shy in third-place after Shepparton Bears sprung an upset 20-point win over the Bombers at the weekend, with the race for the top two now seemingly down to the Murray Bombers and Lions.
Echuca heads back to Victoria Park this weekend for the second grand final rematch of the season against Euroa. The Murray Bombers were nine-point winners over the Pies in their last encounter.
The Game
Score
Echuca: 6.4, 10.4, 15.6, 21.9 (135)
Shepparton Swans: 4.1, 9.4, 10.5, 11.7 (73)
Goals
Echuca: Liam Tenace 8, Will Monahan 3, Corbin Anderson 2, Sam Reid 2, Mitch Wales 2, Harrison Milburn, Kane Morris, Callum Parson, Will Rohde
Shepparton Swans: Steele Simpson 4, Diesel Batey, Zac Clohesy, Tyreece Collison, Joeve Cooper, Mason Pedretti, Ty Sutherland, Lucas, Rachele
Best
Echuca: Liam Tenace, Cameron Valentine, Hugh Byrne, Samuel Reid, Matthew Lias
Shepparton Swans: Zac Banch, Joeve Cooper, Ben Gilberto, Diesel Batey, Will Dwyer