Kyabram slogged its way to an unimpressive 40-point win over a spirited Shepparton United on Sunday.
The clash played in wintry conditions and drizzling rain at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve turned into continuous scrums and stoppages, with few passages of open or decisive play in the challenging conditions.
United never took a backward step all day and pressured the Bombers into a lot mistakes.
After kicking three unanswered goals in the second term United trailed by just two points at half-time.
But Kyabram was able to kick six second-half goals while keeping its rival goalless in this period to secure an easy if unflattering win at the finish.
Late withdrawals of Tom Holman and Josh Dillon, who were both ill, meant that 10 players who had donned the senior jumper for Kyabram were missing from its team.
Kyabram produced a debutant in Mitch Dodos, who has been kicking bags of goals in the thirds and reserves, and although conditions were not conducive to his aerial strength he was still able to kick two goals.
Thirds skipper Liam Francis had his second taste of senior football and also managed a goal.
Kyabram’s best player was its workhorse onballer Kaine Herbert, who put himself in the action over the four quarters.
Lachie Smith, whether forward or back, did telling work again while veteran key defender Jason Morgan was reliable again with a lot support from the returning Riley Ironside.
Midfielder Nick Denahy was also a busy playmaker for the Bombers, who had their most destructive forward again in young gun Anthony Depasquale, who kicked four goals.
Stars in ruckman Zac Norris and Zac Keogh weren’t quite as prominent as usual but still did a lot of telling grunt work.
Kyabram makes the trip again to Deakin Reserve this Saturday to meet another struggler, Shepparton, and will be looking to go up a few cogs.
My best for Kyabram were Kaine Herbert, Lachie Smith, Anthony Depasquale, Nic Denahy, Zac Norris and Jason Morgan.
• Kyabram reserves, led by key forwards Jarod Pertzel and Ethan Palma-Ludeman, kept their unbeaten season intact with a 93-point win.
Pertzel bagged seven goals and Palma-Ludeman, who had the ball on a string, kicked six majors in a dominant best-on-ground display.
Kyabram had plenty of telling players further up the field, with skipper Will Wild, Luke Donnell, Kaleb Williams, Adam Pulsoni and ruckman Mitch Fitzgerald all prominent.
Pulsoni, who had played in the thirds, showed his class with productive passages of play.
Josh Wild played his first game for the season and also did some good work to herald he’ll be an asset when he gets more games under his belt.
• Without key players in Mitch Dodos and Liam Francis, who received call-ups to the seniors, the Bombers thirds still put a spirited fight against the unbeaten United.
The home side always had control on the scoreboard and recorded a comfortable 30-point win but the young Bombers battled it out to the final siren.
Sam Campbell, Riley Gallivan, Bohden Learmonth and Jordan O’Neill also tried hard to keep their side in the game.