Many close matches were seen in the Goulburn Valley, Murray, Heathcote and district, Picola and district and Central Murray football league matches on Saturday.
Echuca was unable to continue its winning streak in the Goulburn Valley Football League, with Shepparton Swans proving too strong to win 12.18 (90) to 6.10 (46).
After an even first term, the Swans took over the contest and led by 30 points at half-time, winning every quarter in the 44-point win.
Jamason Daniels, Daniel Lovick and Andrew Riordan (three goals) led the way for the home side, while Kane Morris, Nick Jackson and Tom Stevens were the best for Echuca.
■ Grant Weeks booted 11 goals as Rochester thrashed Shepparton, 23.14 (152) to 5.5 (35).
The Tigers were dominant from the outset but really displayed their superiority with a blistering last quarter, kicking 10 goals to none.
Weeks, Sam Brennan and Brendon Hollow were Rochester's best players, while Scott Hann and Dylan Cuttriss kicked four goals each.
Rhys O'Sullivan, Xavier Stevenson and Rowan Hiscock tried hard for the Bears.
■ Ladder-leader Benalla continued on its merry way with a comfortable 17.5 (107) to 9.5 (59) win against Mooroopna.
The remarkably accurate Saints established their dominance early and maintained its advantage to win by 48 points, with Will Martiniello, Jake Pallpratt and Josh Marchbank leading the way.
Nick Warnock (five goals) and Tom Havers (three goals) also had good games.
Dylan Johnstone, Kaine Greening and Mitch Keddell were the Cats' best, while Kane Boyer finished with three goals.
■ Paul Newman booted seven goals as Kyabram came from behind to defeat Euroa 10.10 (70) to 7.10 (52).
The Magpies led 21-9 at the first break, but the Bombers won the next three quarters to run out 18-point winners, with Jake Reeves, Newman and Chris Atkins influential.
Anthony Long, David King and Andrew Bell kept the home side in the contest, while Nathan Gilliland kicked three goals.
■ Tatura survived a fourth-quarter comeback by Seymour to win 12.11 (83) to 11.7 (73).
The Bulldogs led by 21 points at the last change, but the Lions then kicked five goals to give the visitors a scare.
Tim Lanyon, Rian McGough (four goals) and Brad Ryan were the best for the winners, with Jason Cole, Saad Saad (five goals) and Rory Scopel impressing for Seymour.
■ Shepparton United kept Mansfield goalless for the first half as it ran out 17.12 (114) to 5.10 (40) winners.
The Demons were led by Tim Looby, Ryan Butler and Shannon Campbell in the win, with Justin Davies kicking three goals, while Mansfield's best were not listed.
Murray Football League
Jake Kilmartin starred to kick eight goals as Moama overcame Congupna, 13.11 (89) to 9.8 (62).
Four goals to none in the second term played a big role in the Magpies' away win, with Jake Morgan and Lachie Schultz also impressing.
Nathan Congram, Luke Smith and Tate Mifka were the best for the Road.
■ Echuca United stayed at the top of the ladder after it produced a comprehensive performance to defeat Barooga, 15.8 (98) to 6.5 (41).
Farran Priest starred for the visitors with four goals, with Ash Dedini and Tom Jackson also among the best.
Marcus Smith, Kieran Hill and James Philpot tried hard for the Hawks.
■ Deniliquin Rams kept up its fight for a spot in the top six with a 13.18 (96) to 10.4 (64) win against Tongala.
The Rams were wasteful in the first half, registering 19 scoring shots to four yet only led by 30 points.
But the visitors could not make them pay and Tom Druitt, Todd Gallagher and Brayden Hall went on to lead the home side to victory.
Brett Macdonald and Hayden Barker kicked four goals apiece.
Shannon Tucker, David Newman and Andrew Reid (five goals) were the best for the Blues.
■ Nathalia's grasp on a spot in the top six grew ever more tenuous as Finley kicked five goals to none in the last quarter to win 11.12 (78) to 7.9 (51).
The Purples recovered well from a dismal opening quarter to lead by three points at the last break, but were then unable to stem the Cats' tide, which was led by Ned Morrison, Stephen Patten and Tom Seccull (four goals).
Phillip Carroll, Alistair Corry and Rhys Shannon tried hard for the home side, while Matt Brown kicked three goals.
■ Damian Cupido (10 goals) starred for Rumbalara and Brad Dick chipped in with six majors as Rumbalara recorded its second consecutive high-scoring win, defeating Mulwala 22.8 (140) to 15.18 (108).
The home side blitzed the visitors in the opening three terms to lead by 62 points at the last break, before the Lions salvaged some pride with a solid final term.
Justin Terlich and John Timaepatua also impressed for Rumba, with Graham Weston booting three goals, while Sean Robinson, Mat Howard and Dylan Robinson were the best for the visitors.
Will Farrer and Chase Strawhorn also each finished with four goals.
■ Numurkah ensured Cobram's winless streak continued with a 18.18 (126) to 8.4 (52) win.
Lucas White, Mark Brown and Jake Wilkinson led the way for the Blues, with Tom Kelly and Corey Dunn booting six and three goals respectively.
John Lucas, Ryan McIntyre and Paul Diretto tried hard for the Tigers, with Nicolas Bacchetto kicking three goals.
Heathcote and District Football League
Lockington-Bamawm United won a hard slog at a muddy Colbinabbin ground, defeating the home side 6.6 (42) to 5.6 (36).
Both teams struggled in the tough conditions but it was the Cats who held on for the win, with Chris Hudson, John Halloran and Ady Dohnt leading the team.
Tim O'Dwyer, Hadleigh Sirett and Stephen Tuohey tried hard for the Grasshoppers.
■ Leitchville-Gunbower won a thriller against White Hills with the last kick of the match, 12.20 (92) to 13.9 (87).
Less than a goal separated the teams at the end of every quarter, with the Bombers finishing on top after having registered 10 more scoring shots.
Lee Pollock, Brad Perry and Russell Lee (three goals) starred for the visitors, with Ryan Hocking also kicking three goals, while Matt Sawyer (four goals), Jason Curtain and Brad Wright almost got the Demons over the line.
Ricky Symes also kicked five goals.
■ In the battle of the bottom two teams, Heathcote finally recorded its first win of the season against Elmore, 16.10 (106) to 13.9 (87).
The Bloods enjoyed a terrific start to lead early, but the Saints pegged the lead back and hit the lead by the last break, before going on to win by 19 points.
Darcy McLean, Kyle Siedel and Daniel Russell were the home side's best players, while Phillip Wills, Wade Bonham and Jeff McMurtrie led the way for Elmore.
Brad Morgan and Luke Bell kicked seven goals between them for the winners, while Luke Clark and James Harney booted four goals each for the Bloods.
■ Mt Pleasant proved far too strong for Huntly, prevailing 11.7 (73) to 5.6 (36).
Mounts won the first three quarters in the comfortable win and were led by Koe Ngawati, Luke Milroy (five goals) and Tim Hill, while Harry Whittle, Stacy Fiske and Josh Harris tried hard for the Hawks.
Picola and District Football League north-west
Mathoura's gradual improvement was seen again on Saturday as it lost to Jerilderie 17.15 (117) to 5.2 (32).
It was the first time they team had been defeated by less than 100 points since 2012, with James McRae, Chris Lockhart and Dougal Morrison leading the Demons to the win.
Aaron Purcell and James Gregory finished with eight and three goals respectively.
For Mathoura, Brett Weldon, Tim Sparey and Chris Allingham tried hard.
■ Picola United was involved in the league's first draw of the year, tying with Berrigan 8.8 (56) to 7.14 (56).
However, the Blues would be upset with the final result after leading by 23 points at the last change, before the home side came back to kick four goals to one.
David Low, Dylan Cunningham (four goals) and Scott Miles were the best for the visitors. Details for the Saints were unavailable.
■ Blighty kicked 11 goals to four in the second half to overcome Tocumwal, 13.13 (91) to 11.5 (71).
The Bloods led by 26 points at half-time but were unable to sustain their advantage, with Jake Plattfuss, Kyel Bain and Brody Lumber (six goals) helping the visitors to victory.
Michael Madden also kicked three goals.
Cory Parish, Nathan Tresize and Ken Chellew were the best for Tocumwal.
■ Yarroweyah went ahead early and held on for the rest of the match against Deniliquin Rovers, winning 14.6 (90) to 12.5 (77).
The Grasshoppers were led by Daniel Clarke, Mitch Richmann (four goals), Reece Miller and Chase Saunders (three goals), while Damien Hope, Ricky Howell and Matt Johnson tried hard for the Rovers.
Marc Braybon also kicked four goals.
Central Murray Football League
Cohuna continued its strong run with a 15.16 (106) to 2.13 (25) defeat of Lake Boga.
Angus Grigg starred for the visitors with seven goals and was ably supported by Brandon and Harrison Keely, while Josh Ewart, Nathan Cunning and Hamish Hooppell tried hard for the Magpies.
■ Kerang's impressive year continued with a 19.10 (124) to 11.5 (71) win against NNW United.
The Blues kicked six goals to one in the third term to seal the win, led by a seven-goal haul to Luke Cotchett, Gradlee Pay and Greg Campbell, while Marc Reiffel also booted six goals.
Ben Sheridan, Corey Daniels and Ash Thompson tried hard for the Demons, while Darryl White kicked three goals.
■ Tooleybuc-Manangatang prevailed in the closest contest of the day, defeating Koondrook-Barham 9.3 (57) to 7.8 (50).
The Saints basically won the match during the third term, kicking six goals to none and just held on to win by seven points, with Stephen Lyons, Kayne McAlpine and Ryan O'Sullivan the team's best.
Joel Cullen and Lee Cox kicked three goals each.
Lucas Matthews, Shane Guerra and Jye Cousins (three goals) almost gave the home side the win.
■ Mallee Eagles only led by 10 points at the first break but went on to smash Tyntynder 23.15 (153) to 8.9 (57).
Nine goals to nothing in the second term set up the 96-point win, with Martin Kelly (four goals), Beau Bennett and Steven Thomson starring for the Eagles.
Jake Mills (six goals) and Daniel Bibby (three goals) also impacted on the scoreboard.
Darcy Bibby, Josh Cheek and Brad Carroll tried hard for the Bulldogs, while Kayle Kirby finished with three goals.
■ The last match saw Swan Hill ease to a comfortable 13.6 (84) to 3.4 (22) win against Balranald.
The Swans were in charge throughout the contest, with Xavier Moloney (four goals), Declan Foott and Jared Halligan leading the way, while Hugh Foott kicked three goals.
Dane Fitzgerald, Bryce Delmenico and Jesse Pridham were the best for the Roos.
By Geordie Cowan
