MFL | Tongala clips Eagles’ wings for fourth-straight win

By Josh Huntly

Jul 17, 2022

Soaring Eagle: Bailey Boyack leaps into the air. Photo: Josh Huntly

Tongala has strung together a four-peat of victories in the Murray Football League after overcoming Echuca United in round 14.

Michael Pryde, Adam Lovison and Coby McCarthy led the Blues to win number 11 for the year, a 15.7 (97) to 4.10 (34) result at Echuca South Recreation Reserve that sees Tongala retain second spot following an eye-popping weekend of Murray league football.

Tongala skipped away to a five-goal head-start before the Eagles drew one back late in the first quarter, and despite an improved United showing the Blues held a 29-point buffer at the main break.

A 15-minute lapse in the third quarter allowed the Blues to pile on seven unanswered goals and extend their lead, before a remarkable last quarter where no goals were scored as the game was played almost exclusively in the middle of the ground.

Following last week’s capitulation to Congupna, Eagles coach Farran Priest said he was content with an honourable loss.

“Tonny are a top-two side and they’ve got some really good players on every single line,” Priest said.

“We won the last quarter, which we were rapt with.

Spread the wings: James Harney is impeded by Tongala’s Brayden Nevett. Photo: Josh Huntly

“We were a different team than the one that ran out the week before. We lost by 10 goals but the positive thing was we know our best is obviously really good, it’s just that lapse of 10-15 minutes.

“I was really happy with the way things went on our hand and take nothing away from Tonny, they are a top-two side — we were pretty happy with it.”

James Harney once again starred for the Eagles, with Kynan Sharpe and Joe Harney each contributing.

Tongala is now within one game of top spot following Moama’s thrilling victory over ladder-leader Cobram, setting up a blockbuster round 15 clash between the Blues and the Magpies.

Meanwhile, United looks set to bear the brunt of a wounded Tigers outfit at Scott Oval next week, with Cobram now nursing back-to-back defeats.