Before Saturday the last time Kyabram faced Tatura in a Goulburn Valley League fixture a 121-point defeat was handed out to the Bulldogs.
Not this time around.
Though Tatura succumbed against powerhouse Kyabram, the three-goal margin is a reflection on the fighting spirit shown by a bullish Bulldogs ardent on having a white-hot crack this season.
The Bombers’ defence proved watertight from start to finish, with Tatura mustering two behinds in the opening quarter as Kyabram kicked on for a 24-point lead at the first change.
Tatura turned the tides in the second quarter, booting 3.3 to re-enter the conversation.
But with a comeback made tough thanks to Kyabram’s stern defensive mettle throughout the second half, the Bulldogs would be left ruing the opening stanza as the travellers held on for a 12.13 (85) to 9.9 (63) triumph at Tatura Park.
“They jumped us in the first quarter kicking four goals to none and that ended up being roughly the margin,” Tatura coach Paul Barnard said.
“Other than that it was a pretty clear arm wrestle for the remainder of the day; we had our chances and so did they, so it was a pretty even contest after the first quarter.
“We’re finding out a lot about our list and our younger players, we continue to do that week by week ― when we come up against good opposition we learn a lot off them.”
Tatura led the disposal count 346-296, but lacked in inside 50 efficiency with its 41 per cent well overshadowed by Kyabram’s 73 per cent.
Jason Morgan shone in his 250th game for the club, leading the line defensively, while Kyle Mueller kicked three up forward, his tally matched by Anthony De Pasquale.
Bombers coach Paul Newman was largely pleased with his side’s output, but hinted there’s still much more to come from Kyabram as a tricky set of games edges closer.
“I thought defensively we were great all day, we probably just let ourselves down a bit with ball in hand in the attacking side of the game,” Newman said.
“Other than that, we were just happy to walk away with the four points.
“We’re going, we’re not flying by any stretch of the imagination, but at least we took a bit of a step in terms of our effort and intensity around the ball throughout the day.
“We’ve just to keep chipping away at it.”
Newman also heaped praise on Tatura’s boom recruit Ethan Penrith, stating the former Northern Bullants man is making a reputation for himself just one month into his Goulburn Valley League career.
“He’s an absolute superstar, he’s going to cause some headaches throughout the year.”