Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
TUNGAMAH’S domination of the Picola Football-Netball league continued on Saturday when the Bears made it consecutive South East premierships with a massive 106-point win against Katamatite at Tungamah’s Jubilee Park.
Before a record crowd, the Bears finished as undefeated champions.
Tungamah entered the match as the hottest of favourites but the job still had to be done.
The Bears took up the early running and owned the footy in their half of the ground.
Every statistical area you looked at — Tungamah was in front.
Former Yarrawonga tough man Kyle Archibald was the early star with three first-quarter goals across half forward.
A clash of heads in the second term with Tiger Nicholas Clurey had Archibald off the ground bleeding and groggy.
But he returned in the third quarter, worked his way back into the game and slammed through four long raking goals in the final term in an awesome display.
Katamatite struggled to kick goals, due to the pressure applied by the Bears’ defence.
The ability of Bodhi Butts and Corey Hicks to clear the ball with amazing long bombs was a huge bonus, while Scott Sanderson and Damian Payne were ever reliable.
Tungamah had no such problems up forward, where Lee James showed why he was the leading goalkicker with a seven-goal haul.
The Bears led by 40 points at half-time but pushed the pedal with a 14-goal to five second half.
While ruckman Ash Saunders and Jake Jones ignited the onslaught, it was the Bears’ perennial sparkplugs — Adam Dodd, Terence Jones, co-coach Nick Doyle, Daniel Ellis and Drew Haebich — who were the most destructive.
Dodd and Jones’ vision was spectacular and Ellis’ strength and creativity decisive.
For Katamatite, Clurey, Daniel Bye, Tom Elliott and Andrew Taylor gave their best, while coach Tyson Saunders, who was the co-winner of the Pearce Medal as the league’ best and fairest, kicked four goals.
“The boys gave everything they were asked,” Saunders said.
“But Tungamah were clearly the best team.”
For first-year co-coaches Doyle and Will Cooper, it was a dream come true.
“It’s a relief for it to happen,” Doyle said.
“Everyone expected us to win but you still have to do the hard work.
“I really believe that we played our best game for the season today.
“Everyone did their bit and that was all we had to do.”