On the first Kings Birthday weekend in 70 years a glorious winters day greeted the battle of the Hoppers as Rennie took on Yarroweyah at Bull Plain Rd.
Rennie started strongly against their fellow Hoppers and were able to grab an early 15-point ascendency although it could have been more as they missed some easy shots for goal.
Yarroweyah were trying to keep the game in close and tight and Rennie were taking too long to release the ball from halfback and wind into the forward line, which caused congestion around the ground.
Ridley was solid early supported by Ryan who was a target up forward and Cooke was ever reliable in defence.
Yarroweyah fought back with two early goals in term two before the Rennie Hoppers regrouped aided by the dominance of McInness, both aerially and counter attacking as well as Haley who was picking up a heap of disposals.
Rennie by 17 at the long break.
Term three started like term two with the visitors on fire, but Rennie finally released the shackles and were able to kick five quick goals and take a match winning lead. The game was set up by Kirchen on his wing, Kennedy becoming another target up forward and Rennie being prepared to pull the trigger earlier.
With a limited bench in the final term, the Rennie Hoppers hung in there as a spirited Yarroweyah line up kept on cracking in, with the ultimate result seeing the green and white Hoppers win by 24 points.
Tommy Ryan was awesome all day and ended up with four goals.
Awards: Best Players: Tom Ryan and Harry Haley.
Award winners sponsored by Woods Bus Lines
1 Dom McInness, 2 Dillon Kirchen, 3 Ollie Ridley. 4 Dillon McGillarvary.
Rhys Ludbey looks to get the ball away under pressure.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Reserves
Rennie 24.8.152 def Yarroweyah 4.3.27.
It was another beautiful sunny winter day out Bull Plain Rd for the battle of the Hoppers 2nds. It was the Rennie Hoppers who got off to a flying start having a 7 goal first quarter to lead at the first break by 43 points.
Yarroweyah made some changes for the 2nd quarter and came out firing, kicking the first goal and really made it a contest.
Rennie continued to overuse the ball without taking the first option and went into the main break 58 points ahead and received a deserving spray from Coach Nish.
The spray obviously worked with the Rennie Hoppers getting their running game going through first use from MVM, Fang, Tully and G-Mac and banged on 9 goals in the 3rd, to take the lead out to 113 points.
Coach Nish and Dykesy flipped the magnets for the last quarter where the usual ‘Golden Fist’ weekly winner Kayne Train kicked his first goal for the year much to everyone’s excitement and Hayden ‘Dude, I found my Jumper’ Long kicked his 5th to lead Rennie to a 125-point win.
The bye has come at a good time and hopefully the Reserves get a few more troops back on the training track.
Goals: H. Long 5, D. Bruce 3, B. James 3, J. Danielson 3, A. Smith 2, R. Vodusek 2, K. Hughes, A. Donovan, M. Wilson, B. Birks, R. Thwaites, L. Wolfe.
Best: B. James, T. Woodward, M. VanMaanen, G. McBurnie, H. Long, L. Wolfe.
Awards: Cellarbrations – Ben James, Lake Mulwala Bakery – Tully Woodward, Yarrawonga Hotel – Marcus VanMaanen, ClubMulwala – George McBurnie and Shayne Stiles Roofing – Hayden Long.
Thirds
Rennie 15.11.101 def Yarroweyah 5.3.33.
Ben Coghill eyes a teammate to receive the ball.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The fired up thirds came up against Yarroweyah on Saturday morning and came out firing booting 5 goals to nil in the first quarter.
Hunter Lonergan was proving to be a headache for the opposition scoring goals and creating opportunities up forward while TJ Jones, Brad Burrows, Tyler Clarkson, and Bailey Lewis continued to pump the ball into the forward line with the score 8 goals to 1 at half time.
The second half saw Yarroweyah lift a cog but to Rennie’s credit the boys stuck to the game plan.
Lach Burrows, Ryder Oliver, Rhyse Lubley and Alex Perez repelled many scoring opportunities for the opposition while, Lach Kelly booting 3 goals was the beneficiary of some great pressure and creativity by Tom Lovell, Jye Langford and Connor Strawhorn.
In the end the lads ran out winners 101-33.
Goals: H. Lonergan 5, L. Kelly 3, L. Burrows 2, O. Cope 2, C. Strawhorn, J. Doig, T. Clarkson.
Best: T. Jones, H. Lonergan, B. Burrows, T. Clarkson, L. Burrows, O. Cope.
Awards: Murray Valley Rural Services – Tuari Jones, Paternoster Farms – Hunter Lonergan, Wingates – Lach Burrows, C & T Rhodes – Tyler Clarkson and Woods Bus Lines – Brad Burrows.
Fourths
Rennie 8.5.53 def Yarroweyah 5.6.36.
It was a beautiful sunny winters morning for the young Rennie Hoppers to play off against their Hopper counterparts Yarroweyah.
It was a slower start in attack for the Rennie kids failing to score in the first quarter however they spent the rest of the game making up for it.
Charlie proved a strong target down forward, with backstop Blair again a tough opponent in the back line.
Archie was a star up forward finishing with three for the day, the strong combination of Kasey, Cam and Phibba (2 goals) carved it up in the midfield.
Sienna’s big bombs out of the backline also helped keep the ball in Rennie’s favour.
A full bench made it a busy day for coach Ben and super runner Strawny, but helped get all the Rennie kids into the game and equalled a great four quarter effort for the young Hoppers who came away with a solid win.
Goals: A. Bedford 3, L. Phibbs 2, C. Strawhorn, C. Bourke, M. Natt.
Best: K. Magro, B. Strawhorn, F. Bruce, S. Clarkson, F. Nagle, M. Natt.
Awards: I and P Ferguson – Kasey Magro, Kennedy Builders – Blair Strawhorn, STF Engineering – Finn Bruce, Border City Pumping – Sienna Clarkson, Red Ag – Fraser Nagle and Lake Mulwala Bakery – Taj Natt.
Under 11s
Awards: RedAg – Finnin George, Oughton irrigation – Harry Giblett, Eternal Paws – Charlie Bourke and Lake Mulwala Bakery – Fox Lonergan.
Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend and let’s enjoy this week off before regrouping against Katandra at Rennie on Saturday June 2024.