A desperate fourth-quarter fightback against reigning premier Mulwala failed to resurrect Tongala’s Murray Football League season as the Lions ran away with a 70-point win.
After booting 10 goals to four in the first half, it looked as if the Lions were home and hosed with a 41-point lead at three-quarter time, but the Blues drew back within 18 points after kicking the first three goals of the final quarter.
However, the comeback was short-lived as Mulwala slammed home the last eight goals of the match, securing its 10th win of the season.
Despite the 9.7 (61) to 20.11 (131) scoreline, Tongala coach Matt Daniel said the scoreboard didn’t tell the entire story of his side’s performance.
“It was completely different to the last three weeks,” Daniel said.
“Our mindset was good from the get-go, the boys had a crack. The scoreboard looks pretty bad but we were right up in the game until the eight-minute mark of the last quarter.
“A lot of positives came out of the game. Our attitude and our self-belief was there but as good sides do, (Mulwala) wore us down.”
Zach Scott and Jack Sutherland (five goals) served the ladder-leading Mulwala well, while Bailey Cox, Dom Watt and Riley Clarke were Tongala’s best players.
The loss, Tongala’s fifth in a row, deals a big blow to the Blues’ finals hopes, now 3-8 for the season and four games outside the top six.
They face Finley (seventh), Cobram (fifth), and Moama (third) in the coming weeks, with seven games remaining overall for Tongala to turn its season around.
– Tongala took another big step to a top-two Murray Netball League finish with victory over rival contender Mulwala at the weekend.
The Blues moved a game clear of the Lions in second place with an emphatic win out at Lonsdale Reserve, confirming a 14-goal win over the high-flying Mulwala.
The 51-37 result, Tongala’s 10th triumph of the season, also snapped a six-game Lions winning streak, with the Blues handing Mulwala its first defeat since round four.
Meg Brennan and Corey Drennan were pivotal in the round-12 victory, Tongala’s second in a row since a narrow loss to the undefeated Deniliquin.
The Blues will face Finley (2-9) in round 13 as the run to finals takes shape, with the coveted double chance presently held by Tongala and Deniliquin.
Meanwhile, the race for the remaining finals spots is beginning to heat up.
Third to sixth all sit tied on 28 points with Rumbalara (fourth) and Moama (fifth) both walking away with percentage-boosting wins in round 12.
Echuca United sits in sixth, pushing the undefeated Rams in a tight contest.
The side gunning for those three clubs is Congupna, who are a game behind in seventh place.
A gulf has opened up from that position, with clubs two games behind the pace of The Road.
SCOREBOARD
Tongala...........................1.0, 3.3, 6.5, 9.7 (61)
Mulwala.................4.3, 6.7, 12.10, 20.11 (131)
Goals, Tongala: Jordan Souter 2, Sam Cipriani, Tom Cooper, Andrew Hummerston, Jack Sinclair, Levi Taylor, Tristan Watson, Dom Watt. Mulwala: Jack Sutherland 5, Ron Harley-Middleton 4, Jack Meade, Adam Rouel 2, Tom Dow, Jackson Gash, Jyda House, Charley McKenna, Dylan McNamara, Harrison Meade, Tom Wilson
Best, Tongala: Bailey Cox, Riley Clarke, Dominic Watt, Tom Cooper, Tristan Watson, James Ross. Mulwala: Zach Scott, Jack Sutherland, Owen Conway, Dylan McNamara, Jackson Gash, Adam Rouel