It’s a draw: Cats and Purples can’t be split

The Purples have been one of the benchmark teams over the past 20 years and it is always a tough and enthralling contest.

After the first bounce, it didn’t take Nathalia long to open the scoring through the efforts of Bailey Bell. The ball travelled end to end and both defences led the way.

Finley entered their forward line and it was a mark and goal to small forward Paul Massingham that registered the Cats’ first.

Both sides played to their strengths, and it was again Bell who scored the Purples’ next two goals to finish the quarter with three.

Nathalia went into the first break leading by 13 points.

The second term started with Finley’s Luke Moore winning the clearance, kicking to Nik Burns, who in turn booted it to Zach Brain who drove it deep forward. Charlie Lang got on the end of it and snapped truly on his left foot.

Finley’s Moore was winning possessions in and around the contest and it was Brain who snapped the Cats next goal.

Nathalia moved the ball forward and it was Brodie Ross who marked and kicked straight through the big sticks.

Levi Middleton won the clearance out of the middle, and Brain took a massive contested mark. He shot the pass off to Mitch Carson who slightly pulled the kick and registered a behind.

The ball was brought back in, and it was Finley defender Angus Robertson who floated forward to kick the Cats’ fourth for the term and it was only two points the difference at the main break.

The third quarter started the same as the second with the Cats winning the ball out of the centre this time through Mitch Reilly. He kicked the ball to Kayden Sharp and after a 50-metre penalty he kicked a goal.

In the middle of the ground Lachy Hawkins – who along with Zye Treadway was having a significant influence around the ground – competed strongly against Nathalia’s Brodie Ross. Middleton won the ball out of the contest and passed it to Brain (5 goals) who scored the goal.

Minutes later it was Brain who took another strong mark and scored. After a down the field free kick it was Bell (six goals) who again took full advantage. The lead changed several times, and it was only three points the difference at the last change.

The last term started with Hawkins dominating the ruck and Charlie Lang getting the ball to his brother Tom who scored the first goal. Finley got out to a 13 point lead only for the Purples to hit back and regain the lead.

It took to the 26-minute mark for Brain again to take a mark and kick the goal and with only two minutes left on the clock Finley led by a point.

The ball was cleared and out onto the Cats’ attacking wing only to be turned over and Ross marked with seconds left. He kicked to the grandstand side of the ground and Nathalia’s Liam Evans marked on the siren 45m out, on a tight angle.

A goal would give the Purples the win and a point would square the ledger.

While he was taking his shot the crowd went wild and he pushed his kick slightly to the right, registering a point.

A sombre feeling was left across the playing field and into the crowd with both sides finishing on 82 points.

Final scores: Finley 13.4 (82) drew Nathalia 12.10 (82).

The Cats will need to regroup quickly and be ready to take on last year’s premiers Mulwala at home this week.

It is expected to be a cracking game in what is one of the most even competitions the Murray League has seen in years.

Goals: Zac Brain 5, Tom Lang 3, Paul Massingham 1, Nik Burns 1, Angus Robertson 1, Kayden Sharp 1, Charlie Lang 1.

Best players: Zac Brain, Angus Robertson, Luke Moore, Nik Burns, Jesse White, Tom Lang.

Awards: Country Club Hotel - Zac Brain; O’Connor’s Case IH - Nik Burns; Kelly Grains - Lach Hawkins; Finley RSC - Angus Robertson; Garnaut Private Wealth - Luke Moore.

Reserves

On a sunny day in Nathalia, the twos scored a ‘come from behind’ win.

It was a slow start from the Cats, but it was Liam Rafferty who stood up and took charge leading the troops to victory with a best on ground performance. He wasn’t alone with Robbie Hamman, Liam Osborne, Noah Iddles and Lenny Dattoli across the middle all playing outstanding games.

Marcus Anderson led hard all day providing a strong target, along with captain James ‘Bubba’ Kennedy who had a number of scoring shots (needs to work on accuracy) being the most dangerous forwards.

Jonty King helped out, doubling up after the thirds, joining up with older brother Harrison, both having very good games. Hopefully it’s not the last the side will see of Jonty.

There were three match saving efforts in the last quarter.

Firstly, Robbie Hamann made a massive chase down tackle, resulting in a holding the ball decision.

Next, two seasoned players in the back line, Dave Conrick and Sam Price, made big spoils and hit the ball to advantage. Thirdly Matt Jackson, returning from injury, took a mark going back with the flight.

All three acts really set the tone in the final quarter and got the team over the line. This win showed what is possible if the work is put in.

This week against Mulwala the Cats will be hoping to turn around the result from the first time the sides clashed earlier in the year.

Final scores: Finley 7.10 (52) def Nathalia 7.5 (47)

Goals: Harrison King 2, Jonty King 2, Lenny Dattoli 1, James Kennedy 1, Liam Osborne 1

Best players: Liam Rafferty, Robbie Hamann, Marcus Anderson, James McCaw, Noah Iddles, James Kennedy

Awards: Irwin Stockfeeds - Liam Rafferty; OMLS - Robbie Hamann; Eagle i Machinery - Marcus Anderson; Marshall Ag - James McCaw; Kalangadoo Nursery - Noah Iddles.

Under-17s

The thirds set themselves for a huge game on Saturday against a Nathalia team three wins ahead on the ladder, and they delivered, recording an impressive 19-point win.

The Cats started with two goals in the first five minutes, after which the Purples upped their game, and it was a fairly even contest up until half-time.

In the second half the Cats slowly extended their lead, though they allowed the Purples to kick the last two goals.

With such an even team effort best players were hard to pinpoint, but Cooper Sutton played a rock solid game at full back with his partner in crime Jared Hislop marking everything in his vicinity.

Captains Jordan Sykes (one goal) and Issac Lunn put in their usual effort for the team to also stand out.

Up forward, Jonty King (three goals) was a great focal point with some foils from Reece Simmons (two goals), Sam Hurlston (one goal) and Nick Chesworth (one goal).

A great team effort with the only sour point being a shoulder injury to young Peter Everingham.

Final scores: Finley 8.3 (51) def Nathalia 4.8 (32).

Goals: Jonty King 3, Reece Simmons 2, Jordan Sykes 1, Nick Chesworth 1, Sam Hurlston 1.

Best players: Cooper Sutton, Jordan Sykes, Isaac Lunn, Jarred Hislop, Nick Chesworth, Jonty King.

Awards: Finley RSC - Isaac Lunn; Ross & Sarah - Jarred Hislop; Matt Daniel Plumbing - Nick Chesworth; Nathan Everingham & Co - Cooper Sutton; Kalangadoo Nursery - Jonty King; Massingham Auto - Jordan Sykes.

Under-14s

The fourths woke up early to travel out to a slick Nathalia deck to take on the Purples.

Darcy Sutton was strong at full back all day and linking up with the returned Judd Clarke to rebound out of the backline, getting the ball downfield into the sights of Logan Paesley.

Finishing the first half with low scores, the boys were set to keep up their good form, with Jason Hay, Tom Marshall and Campbell Reynolds playing well out of the centre and Angus Urquhart rotating where needed to provide extra support.

They enjoyed the return to form of Blake Vidler, whose extra strength around the contest relieved the backline further as the game went on.

Unfortunately a few late injuries in the third quarter allowed Nathalia to capitalise and gain momentum with accurate kicking and good clearance work.

However, in the fourth Finley returned in force to outscore their opponents, using Hudson Daniel and Joel Fitzel as forwards playing up the ground to provide marking options on the big Nathalia field.

Despite the momentum, Nathalia held on well and proved strong under pressure to record a 23 point a win.

Final scores: Finley 1.4 (10) def by Nathalia 4.9 (33)

Goals: Logan Peasley 1

Best players: Logan Peasley, Thomas Marshall, Jason Hay, Hudson Daniel, Judd Clarke, Blake Vidler.

Awards: Finley RSC - Logan Peasley; Ashley Haynes Butchery - Thomas Marshall; Kalangadoo Nursery - Jason Hay; Bauer Family - Hudson Daniel; Sutto’s Mini Excavations Coaches Award - Judd Clarke; Lucas McCaw - Blake Vidler.