Border Mail | WODONGA Raiders snapped a three-match losing streak to storm back into finals calculations with an emphatic 51-point win against an equally desperate Corowa-Rutherglen at John Foord Oval on Saturday.
The Raiders fortunes were heading south due to the absence of some key personnel but they snared the result they needed with a polished four-quarter effort to leave the Roos’ season in tatters.
The Raiders came to play with renewed intensity around every contest and dominated the opening term by almost doubling the inside 50m and tackling counts.
But they missed some absolute sitters in front of goal which kept the Roos in the contest.
The Raiders also suffered a setback in the first term when young ruckman Nick Nott left the ground with a knee injury.
But within the space of five minutes of the resumption of play the Roos fate was sealed.
Three quick goals from Steve Jolliffe, Todd Bryant and Sam Murray pushed the lead out to almost five goals.
The impetus was coming from the middle of the ground and the impact of Hayden Heta.
Heta played in Wodonga’s last premiership almost a decade ago and had a brief, but unspectacular return to the O and M six years ago.
He monstered the Roos at the centre bounces and importantly was a force resting up forward where he kicked three goals to cap off a best-on-ground outing.
The Roos afternoon went from bad to worse when they lost Joe Hansen to a potentially serious shoulder injury and Luke Prescott’s day ended prematurely with concussion.
The Corowa-Rutherglen defence has been the team’s shinning light all season, but even they had a dirty day.
The Roos mounted a mini revival in the third term to trim the margin to 31 points.
But any thoughts of a miracle fight-back were snuffed out when Ben Murphy converted from close range before Murray produced one for the highlights reel.
He won the ball from the centre, took two bounces and drilled the goal from near the 50 metre arc.
Murray finished with five goals to challenge Heta for best afield.
The Raiders won every quarter to impress coach Darren Cresswell.
“We were pretty disappointed with last week,” he said.
“We worked hard on our defensive pressure and we got the game played on our terms.
“We showed a lot of character.”
The Roos were best served by coach Bryce Campbell, Sam Carpenter, Damien Wilson and key forward Luke Gestier regained some form with four goals.
Debutant Ryan Garthwaite was used at both ends of the ground and performed creditably.
“They were too good for us,” Campbell said.
“They might not be the most talented team we’ve played, but they are the best drilled.”
