LIVING in the twin towns does have its advantages — it’s a great place to live.
But unfortunately for the Echuca Moama United Masters this means that when teams play at our home, they bring more than just the team.
This was the case on the weekend, with Sunbury travelling with big numbers, families and friends.
The EMUs at home though also had a full contingent of players for the night game on Saturday.
One of the key talking points was having Troy Ramsey back from a sixweek Europe holiday, but as we were soon to find out the training that Troy does on holidays did not include ball skills or running!
The team was set with the centre spine line-up that coach Bruce McCohan describes as one of the strongest in the league.
Garner Smith at full back, Peter Spencer at centre half back, Chris Hagan in the middle, Marcus Nelson at centre half forward and Duanne Kelly as the target at full forward, being fed by the big ruckman Justin Voss.
Sunbury came out showing skills and pace to score the first three goals.
It took some inspirational passages of play from defender Kevin Dunque, Jeff Abella out of the middle and Damien Hammond to score the home team’s first goal.
Down at the start of the second quarter, the coach stood by the initial line-up with Chris Blake and Greg Boisgard being changed on the wings to pressure Sunbury’s loose men.
The EMUs got off to a good start with two goals early in the second quarter: John Smythe kicking a 40-metre torpedo on the run and Darryl Quoter taking a pack mark and converting from 30 out.
The back line was again under pressure but Billy Smith’s tackling and Troy Arlow’s continued attack from the back line helped to keep Sunbury to one goal three in the second term.
A lot of the Masters footballers do their best work under lights, usually disco lights, but tonight under the bright lights of the Echuca South oval the boys began to make some classic moves.
Bruce McCohan stepped up with some great grabs, while Lucas Walker gave the team some much-needed run linking with other fast men Jeff Abella, Paul Lavars and Chris Hagan.
This resulted in the ball getting to the reliable forwards in David Chapman, Aaron Prewett and James Walshe, with each converting for goals.
Darren Syaranamual back from injury was also finding form again with some good play along the forward line.
The ever reliable Jared Johnson and Garner Smith kept their opponents scoreless in the quarter.
Still two goals down at the start of the final term, Justin Voss in the ruck continued to win the ball around the ground and John Smythe again converted early in the quarter.
Adam Richter in defence spoilt everything that came his way and Damien Hammond continued to drive the ball out of defence.
Oliver Orange, who had been competing hard all day, took an intercept mark and converted for a major score.
Sheer determination and effort from Jeff Abella, Paul Lavars, Chris Hagan and Duanne Kelly in the last few minutes of the game made the difference when the final siren sounded.
A big thanks to Michael Dodd for umpiring for the night, great job.