Bombers display intense tackling in runaway win

The Lions put it to the visitor for a quarter in their Goulburn Valley League clash at Seymour on Saturday.

But when the Bombers increased the intensity from the second quarter Seymour couldn’t go with them.

The final result was a blowout 86-point win, achieved by hard running , intense tackling and fruitful switching of play.

It was probably as good as the Bombers have played all season with their last three quarters reaping 16 goals to Seymour’s four in what turned into a one-horse race in a twinkling.

Between the second and third quarters the Bombers bombarded the goals constantly and kicked 11 unanswered.

There was another stretch in the last term when they slotted another four in succession which also wasn’t countered in what really turned into a whitewash.

The Kyabram Kids are learning and learning fast and that has to be credited to their coaches Corey Carver and Kaine Herbert, who have brought a hard edge to this talented team of mainly youngsters.

Carver said after the game there had been a focus on tackling all season and agreed Saturday was as intense as his charges had been all season.

‘We have had a focus on our forwards in particular to keep the ball in our forward half and Saturday was as good as we have been at it. It’s a credit to our players,’’ Carver said.

The transformation in the game and Kyabram’s dominance was initiated by ruckmen Zac Norris and Aidan Robinson, the pacey Eamonn Ogden and Josh Dillon.

Riley Ironside, Mick Mattingly, Jack Russell and Herbert followed suit and the Bombers went into unbeatable mode.

Norris and Robinson dominated the ruck and aerial duels and also hit the scoreboard.

Dillon was the inspiration in setting the benchmark in fearless tackling and Ogden looked like a Melbourne Cup winner with bursts of speed which wrong footed the home side.

The smooth moving Riley Ironside split the goals five times with another dominant display and Mattingly shrugged off early taggers in another high possession display.

But they all had help in Kyabram taking control.

The Kyabram defence again had the uncanny Brad Whitford, super veteran Jason Morgan and the consistent Jake Parkinson leading the way in completely shutting down the home side’s forward line.

Apart from Ironside, who has shown more than once this year he can be match-winner with his goal-kicking skills, Kyabram had several multiple goal-kickers in Charlie Barnett with four, Norris with three and Zac Cerrone and Miller Griffiths with two each.

Griffiths was making his first appearance in the seniors for the season and along with other young players Oscar Dixon, Bohden Learmonth, Archie Watt, Angus Scoble and Adam Pulsoni were able to contribute in the morale boosting win.

The Bombers have the bye in the split round this weekend, but then host bottom sides Tatura followed by an away game against Benalla and then back home for their final game home game against Shepparton United.

Then it gets tougher in the run to the finals with away games against flag aspirants Mansfield, Echuca and Shepparton Swans.

My best for Kyabram in an even team were Riley Ironside, Josh Dillon, Zac Norris, Eamonn Ogden, Mick Mattingly, Aidan Robinson, Brad Whitford, Kaine Herbert and Jake Parkinson.

· Kyabram reserves were challenged strongly, but absorbed the pressure and bounced back from their first loss for the season the previous week to score a character-filled win.

A dominant first term in which they kicked 5.2 to 1.1 held them in good stead for the remainder of the closely-fought game and they ran out 13-point winners.

There was a surprise selection in the Kyabram side with former Richmond and Kyabram star Kayne Pettifer making an appearance for the first time this season.

And a five-goal haul from the fit 43-year-old proved a match-winner.

On-ballers Sam Vick, Tom Burnett and Sean Dillon had a huge say in the win and Riley Gallivan led the defence in his usual fearless and inspiring style.

Skipper Jayden Fitzgerald also worked tirelessly in the ruck against larger opponents.

· Kyabram thirds showed plenty of fight to fend off a determined Seymour in their clash.

The Bombers had their nose in front, but only just after three keenly and evenly-fought first three quarters and then dug deep to kick 2.2 to 1.1 in the last term to run out winners by 12 points.

Despite their lowly position on the ladder Seymour had upset reigning premier Echuca the previous week, so Bombers co-coach Peter Ryan knew his players had a battle on their hands.

Ryan said he was impressed with his players’ composure under pressure, particularly in the last term.

Oliver Barnett was a key player in the win with his efforts in the midfield and in a tagging role.

Nick Smart found his best form for the season on a wing with a polished display, while Hunter Fawcett again stood up at centre half-forward and kicked three goals.

Charlie Isaac, back from the seniors and in the midfield, and the ever-reliable Lachy Carver also played key roles in the win along with ruckman Will McLean and Tim Savage who battled hard against taller rivals.

The downside was the report of goal-kicking Hamish Stewart which may incur a two-week suspension period.

Another key player, Tyler Norman, didn’t play and also is in doubt for immediate games.

· Kyabram’s under-16 side suffered a 27-point loss to a slick Shepparton Notre Bears outfit, but coach Paul Newman wasn’t disappointed.

‘‘Charlie Pekin, Archie Backway and Wil Harrison didn’t play, but we stuck at it pretty well I felt,’’ Newman said.

The Bombers had their best players in Mitch Wilson in the centre, forward Henry Millar, who kicked four goals, and midfielder Max Stockdale, while Jonty Sefton and Ethan Greiner also showed out at times.

The young Bombers meet Tatura at Tatura this Sunday starting at noon.

· Kyabram’s under-14 side maintained its winning streak with a hard-earned nine-point win over Shepparton Notre Bears.

The Bombers had standout players in midfielder Billy Isaac and defender Sam Stokes, who got plenty of support from Xavier Dodos, Nate Willis, Cooper Fisher and Kade Starling.

Kyabram coach Brenton Sheppard said the win was particularly good as one its star defenders, Riley Nicholson, didn’t play.