Under 18's :- The Echuca 3rds should be commended for getting into the Grand Final - a marvellous effort. At the end of the Home & Away season the Murray Bomber kids finished 4th on the ladder with 12 wins and 6 losses compared to Kyabram who finished on top with 16 wins and 2 losses, BUT, have a look at the Murray Bombers Points For and you will see they kicked the highest for the season, 1479 points compared to Ky's 1467 Points For. The Echuca boys had to win every finals game, an Elimination, the First Semi and last week the Prelim. against Rochester at Deakin and this is exactly what they have done. Three out of three and one more to go. Last week they defeated Rochester 12.7 (79) to 8.9 (57). The goal-kickers were :- Sam McNEILL (4), Jake MILLS (3), Matt COSTELLO (2) and singles to Ayden WALTON, Ben REID and Kyle MANLEY. The top 6 were listed as :- Matthew COSTELLO, Tom MERRETT, Kyle MANLEY, Phillip HUBBARD, Bart PHILLIPS and Ben REID. It seems the Murray Bombers have a real belief in themselves and this will hold them in good stead as they go about defending last years's Flag where they play Kyabram again. This game promises to be a real beauty and should not be missed. Kyabram won the Qualifying final by defeating the Shepparton Swans 10.10 (70) to 8.9 (57) which placed them in the 2nd Semi Final where at Mooroopna a fortnight ago they accounted for Rochester 15.6 (96) to 12.11 (83). The Kyabram Bombers have had a week off - the Echuca Murray Bombers have played every week since the split round on August 8th. Last year Ky and Echuca played each other 4 times with Ky. winning the first three games by 28 points, 43 points and 26 points in the Second Semi but Echuca won the most important game last year, the Grand Final as they defeated Kyabram by 22 points with the final score being :- Echuca 17.8 (110) to Kyabram 13.10 (88). That was last year - it is history - this years Grand Final is a brand new ball game. Last year they played each other 4 times - this Sunday will be just the second time they meet in 2009. The last time they played was in Round 8 which was the 6th of June - 16 weeks ago! Back then the game was at Echuca where the visitors Kyabram won quite convincingly - Kyabram 9.5 (59) to Echuca 4.3 (27) - Kyabram's goal kickers that day were James CURNOW (3), Bradley VICK (2) William JACKSON (2) and singles to Andrew CIAVARELLA and Nicholas COULSTOCK. Ky's best players were recorded as being :- Jack YOUNG, William JACKSON, Ben HOLMAN (formerly MORGAN), Andrew CIAVARELLA, Wes SHELLIE and Sam. WALES. Echuca's goals were kicked by Matthew COSTELLO, David TONINI, Ben REID and Mitchell COWAN. The Murray Bomber's Best 6 were listed as Ben RIED, Kyle MANLEY, David TONINI, Rhys MEHLSTAUBER, Matthew COSTELLO and Sean MORRIS. Not knowing the players personally makes it a bit difficult to select a winnner so your Tipster will use statistics to select the Murray Bombers from Echuca to go back to back and defeat Kyabram by 9 points. Two reasons for selecting Echuca (i) they kicked the most Points For during the home & away season and (ii) Ky defeated Rochy by 13 points (who are a damn good strong side) but Echuca defeated the Tigers by 22 points so subtract 13 from 22 gives you the 9 points. Good luck to both sides - lets hope it is a really tough game played in the best of spirits. Deakin is in outstanding condition - the weather forecast 5 days out is for a maximum of 15 degrees with only a 30% chance of rain during the day but late showers are forecast - the wind is expected to be from the South-West blowing at about 26 kph.
Last Modified on 10/06/2010 20:03