Some big bags were kicked by players throughout the district, while Echuca United held off Mulwala in a top-of-the-table MFL clash.

A dominant second half led Mooroopna to a comprehensive 23.8 (146) to 11.7 (73) defeat of Echuca at Vic Park today.

Only 17 points separated the teams at half-time, but the Cats kicked eight goals to one in the third term to set up the result.

One of the most impressive facets of the win for the visitors was the spread of its goal-kickers, with Mitch Keddell, Dean Smith and Rob Osborne all kicking three goals.

Joe Sullivan, Karl Lohde and Keddell were named as the team's best, while Simon Buckley (three goals), Matt Hay and Rhys Archard (five goals) played well for Echuca in what was captain Brendan Prendergast's 200th game.

■ Rochester overcame a dogged Shepparton Swans at Princess Park to win 16.10 (106) to 13.14 (92).

The game swayed in the visitors' favour during the third quarter when they kicked five goals to two.

Tigers full-forward Grant Weeks finished with eight goals and Luke Gestier also booted five, while captain Elliot Bowen was named his team's best.

Daniel Campbell kicked four goals for the Swans, while the best players were Daniel Lovick (for the third week in a row), Kyle Tapscott and Quade Johnstone.

■ Paul Newman showed little sign of having missed nearly a month of football as he kicked seven goals in Kyabram's 19.11 (125) to 8.12 (60) win away against Euroa.

A first quarter which saw the Bombers lead 44-5 set up the 65-point win, with Simon Seddon also kicking three goals.

Xavier Hilton, Sam Sheldon and Liam Ogden were the best for the winners, with Jack Crowe, Nick Snowdon and James Ivill trying hard for the Magpies.

Brad Gleeson also kicked three goals.

■ The most thrilling game of the day saw Mansfield claw back a 24-point half-time deficit to finish with a draw against Shepparton United, 14.8 (92) to 14.8 (92).

In what was the Demons' second draw of the season — after an earlier one with Benalla — Jason Eagle starred up forward with eight goals for the match.

United had kicked a remarkable 9.0 to half-time but only kicked 5.8 after it as the Eagles kicked 10.2 in the second half, with Josh Fraser finishing with seven goals.

Eagle, Chris Down and Matt Dibella were the best for the Demons, while Mark Jones, Matt Storer and David Clarke starred for the Eagles.

■ Tatura had 20 shots to five by half-time of its match against Seymour and the Bulldogs went on to smash the Lions 20.19 (139) to 9.4 (58).

The home team was led by Tom Durward, Rian McGough (three goals) and Bill Hicks, while Ben Waite also kicked five majors.

Jason Cole, Saad Saad (five goals) and Brendan Liddell were the best for the visitors.

■ The final game of the round saw Benalla ease to a 16.21 (117) to 9.9 (63) win against Shepparton.

Luke Morgan, Jackson Hourigan and Jordan Wolff starred for the Saints, with Brody Webster kicking five goals, while Ash Holland, Taylor Young and Lachie Baldwin tried hard for the Bears.

Sean Harrap and Braden Pullen also finished with seven majors between them.

MFL

Echuca United established a vital eight-point buffer at the top of the Murray Football League ladder after coming from behind to defeat Mulwala in a top-of-the-table clash at Echuca South, 14.10 (94) to 9.17 (71).

The Eagles trailed by 21 points at the first break before coming back to kick 12 goals to four for the rest of the game.

The Priest brothers starred for the home side, with captain Rowan named best afield and Farran finishing with seven goals, while defender Jake Guinan also impressed in what the club was celebrating as his 100th senior game.

The Lions will rue their inaccuracy, but it was not without the best efforts of Kyle Archibald (four goals), Keegan Oliver and Lucas Olson in what was Sean Robinson's 150th game.

■ Tongala fought hard but was ultimately unable to produce the upset it craves as it lost to Cobram 10.13 (73) to 13.13 (91).

After trailing by five points at the first break, the Tigers pushed out to a 20-point lead by half-time and held on to the advantage for the rest of the game.

Nick Tassell, Sam Gemmill and Ben Ryan (four goals) were the best for the winners, while Liam Brennan, Shannon Tucker and Jordan Souter tried hard for the home side.

Andrew Reid also finished with three goals.

■ Finley ensured itself of a battle with Mulwala for second spot on the ladder after holding off a dogged Numurkah, 12.12 (84) to 9.12 (66).

The Cats only led by four points at half-time, but a six-goal third term saw them establish a lead too big to be pegged back.

Shaun Kable and Stephen Patten booted four goals each for the winners, with Jeremy Congram, Ryan Bongetti and Tennyson Vance the team's best players.

Beau McKeown, Sam Robertson and Chris Oliver were the Blues' best, while Mark Brown kicked three goals.

■ In what was the final game of a shortened MFL round, Nathalia absolutely trounced Tocumwal 33.23 (222) to 2.2 (14).

Jason Limbrick booted nine goals in the 208-point win, with Matt Davies, Ben Hitchcock, Todd Hicks and Alistair Corry sharing in a further 18 goals, with Rhys Shannon named the team's best player.

Aaron Findlay, Scott Baldwin and Dalton Sanderson tried hard for the Bloods, with Daniel Phelan kicking both goals.

HDFL

Lockington-Bamawm United showed little mercy to Mt Pleasant as it racked up 34 scoring shots to three in its 24.10 (154) to 3.0 (18) win.

John Halloran (seven goals), Ady Dohnt (five goals) and Nathan O'Brien starred for the team, with Lachie Collins and Ryan Jensen also booting three majors each.

Jarrod Findlay, Joe Whiting and Taig Griffin were Mounts' best.

■ Leitchville-Gunbower continued its push forward to comfortably defeat White Hills 14.12 (96) to 7.11 (53).

The Bombers won every quarter of the must-win match, with Russell Lee (four goals), Hoby Bussey and Joel Helman (four goals) especially impressive.

Matt Lehane, Joe McMahon and Mitchell Curtis were the best for the Demons.

■ Huntly placed itself as a clear second favourite for the title as it thumped North Bendigo 25.12 (162) to 9.8 (62).

An eight-goal to one opening term set up the rout, with Ryan Semmel, Kyle Shepherd and Luke Crameri starring for the team.

Chris Gleeson finished with seven goals, while Lachie O'Toole and Daniel Lloyd chipped in with three majors each.

It was the Bulldogs' third straight loss after winning seven games in succession, with Ricky Dudley, Josh Gitsham and Tom O'Loughlin the team's best, while Stewart Broussard kicked three goals.

■ Colbinabbin staked fourth place for its own after it visited Heathcote and won 17.15 (117) to 12.16 (88).

The Grasshoppers led at every change and a four-goal to two final quarter sealed the 29-point win.

Sam Hill (eight goals), Alex Van Ruiswyk (four goals) and Pat O'Brien starred for the winners, while Marc Millard, Blake Coyle (three goals) and Jake Condon were the best for the Saints.

PDFL

Mathoura fought hard to challenge the Deniliquin Rovers, but ultimately it was the home team who came away with the points after winning 13.14 (92) to 9.12 (66).

The Timbercutters trailed by only eight points at the last break, but 2.7 to one behind saw the Rovers win.

Chris Allingham, Brodie Unwin and Ben Makepeace (five goals) led the way for Mathoura, with Justin Allingham also kicking three majors.

Louis Clarke, Matt Dowling and Adam Bodey were the best for the winners, with Terry Lumbar and Andrew Hogan each kicking three goals.

■ After a relatively low-scoring first half, Strathmerton kicked 17 goals to five after half-time to defeat Picola United 23/11 (149) to 7.8 (50).

Goals were shared among the winners, with Adam Laidlaw (five), Josh Evans (four), Brayden Coburn (three) and Ian Oliver (three) leading the way, with Michael Laidlaw, Shaun Downie and Coburn the team's best.

Lachie Newman, Tom Lindsay and Shaun Pearce tried hard for the Blues.

■ Aaron Purcell continued his terrific run of form to kick 12 of Jerilderie's 21 goals in its 21.10 (136) to 8.10 (58) defeat of Blighty.

Jak Payne also booted five goals for the winners, which saw Nick Keating, Andrew May and Lachie Leeds the team's best.

Jamie Chadderton, Brody Lumber and Brett Napier tried hard for the Redeyes, with Brad Todd and Zeke Flanagan kicking three goals each.

■ The final game saw Berrigan thump Yarroweyah 28.19 (187) to 4.7 (31).

Ron Middleton booted 10 and Kris Bedforb six in the mauling, with Jack Mynard, Jack Hill (three goals) and Cameron Mynard (four goals) the team's best players.

Lewis Oliver, Jimmy Cherry and Stuart Thomson tried hard for the Grasshoppers.

By Geordie Cowan

Article first appeared The Riverine Herald, July 27, 2013