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Katunga earns ‘clinical’ tag in barnstorming beating of Mathoura

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Soaring Swan: Katunga's Oliver Small takes a timely mark in the forward line. Photo by Steve Huntley

Damian Kennedy didn’t shy away from the fact the scoreboard perhaps flattered his Katunga side despite slashing through Mathoura for an 89-point win in round seven.

The Swans had the goal umpires at one end working overtime and it may have been much more even if the Timbercutters had converted their early entries as a fast and loose opening quarter went the visitors’ way.

“To be pretty honest I thought we were lucky to have the lead we did at quarter-time,” Kennedy said.

Ball up: Katunga's Nick Thorp and Mathoura's Kyle Magro do battle in the ruck. Photo by Steve Huntley

“Mathoura actually started well but failed to convert which flattered us a bit.

“I think we got beat in the second quarter, then after half-time and in the last quarter we dominated.

“The scoreline looks more convincing (than it was), and when we had our opportunities we converted and pulled away.”

Max on the move: Katunga's Max Hendy takes possession. Photo by Steve Huntley

Katunga’s first-quarter flurry had it gain a 45-point ascendancy, but a four-goal reply from Mathoura dragged the margin back to five goals at the half.

When it was time to stand tall, however, the Timbercutters folded.

Much to the dismay of Mathoura coach Tim McCormick, Katunga restricted his contingent to a pair of behinds in the third and two goals in the last, sealing a dismal day on the track in the wake of a 20.15 (135) to 6.10 (46) defeat in Picola District Football League.

“We got a lesson on work rate against a side travelling pretty well,” McCormick said.

Twist and turn: Mathoura's Clint McNabb. Photo by Steve Huntley

“Our contest around the footy we did really well, then they just outworked us.

“We were getting caught across half-forward and turning the ball over there, so we shot ourselves in the foot.”

Mathoura looked to the likes of Izaac Johnson and Aron Burns (two goals each), while Jacob Simpson earned praise from McCormick despite the loss.

On the run: Katunga's Daniel Campbell leads the race to the ball. Photo by Steve Huntley

On the opposite front, Katunga was buoyed by clinical conversion from forwards Fergus Lappin and Daniel Cambell who booted 16 goals between them, while Spencer Small, Xavier Thorp and Jackson Harris starred for the Swans.

“We converted when we went forward, that was probably the really convincing thing for us,” Kennedy said."

“We haven’t done than it the last few weeks – in the Waaia game we had entries, but we didn’t kick a score, I thought it could’ve been a bit closer if we converted our opportunities.”

In other matches, Waaia sliced Katamatite to ribbons in a 15-goal win as Dylan Moncur, Jesse Trower, Charlie Burrows and Brayden Coates all kicked a three-goal bag against the Tigers.

Strathmerton ran out a 22-point victor over Picola United, Katandra steamrolled Blighty 34.22 (226) to 2.4 (16), Jerilderie beat Rennie convincingly, while Deniliquin Rovers did a job on Yarroweyah.