Rutherglen has staged the early upset of the Tallangatta and District League season, accounting for defending premiers Thurgoona by two points.
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Less than two goals separated to the sides at every change, but it was the Cats who ultimately prevailed, 9.17 (71) to 10.9 (69).
Thurgoona hit the front halfway through the final term, but Rutherglen responded with a late goal to hold on in the dying stages.
Cats’ coach Damien Wilson said the result was even more impressive after the side had four changes from round one.
“It proves the depth in the whole squad is up to senior footy,” Wilson said.
“We had Ben Pleming playing his first game who stood up in the back six and Kyle Turton who is only 18 years old and stood up to senior footy.
“We were down a ruckman and had to play our centre half-back Sam Fielder in the ruck.
“It obviously stretched us, but it gave the other guys opportunities, which was awesome.”
Yackandandah held its nerve to put away Chiltern in the last quarter and record its second successive win of the season on Saturday.
The Roos had the early ascendancy, but the home side fought back to level the scores at the final change, before Yackandandah finished with a 17.9 (111) to 11.13 (79) victory.
Yackandandah co-coach Jay Dale admitted it was a hard-fought game.
“We got a bit of a jump at half-time, but to Chiltern’s credit they fought back and made us work very hard for the win,” Dale said.
“We’ve got a young side and we made a couple of silly decisions and Chiltern had a fair dinkum crack.
“They had us worried at three-quarter time.
“I told the players these are the sort of games we’ve got to win if we want to be there in September.”
Trent Castles led the way up front with another bag of eight goals, while Lee Dale was once again very strong through the middle of the ground.
It’s only taken two rounds to see the first draw of the season, with Mitta United and Barnawartha locked at 7.8 (50) apiece after the final siren at Eskdale.
Mitta held an 11-point advantage at three-quarter-time, but a spirited fightback from the Tigers saw the sides share the points.
Elsewhere, Kiewa-Sandy Creek held off a much-improved Dederang-Mount Beauty outfit, 14.13 (97) to 8.6 (54).
A seven-goal final quarter allowed Beechworth to get the better of Tallangatta, 20.9 (129) to 17.9 (111), while Wahgunyah was far too strong for Wodonga Saints as it raced away with a 30.22 (202) to 3.7 (25) triumph.
Nick Brockley and Josh Kemp booted 15 goals between them for the Lions.