NORADJUHA-QUANTONG has missed out on leapfrogging Natimuk United into a finals position after losing to Rupanyup by just a single goal on Saturday.
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For the second time this season the Bombers and the Panthers have played out a thrilling contest. In round four it were the Bombers who defeated the Panthers by a goal, but it was Rupanyup who turned the tables around to keep its finals chances well and truly alive.
Rupanyup was off to a fast start in the contest, kicking four first-quarter goals to the Bombers’ one. Trent Grant was lively for the Panthers all day, finishing with a team-high five goals.
A five-goal second term to the Bombers had them just four points behind Rupanyup at half-time, setting up an enticing second-half encounter.
Rupanyup again built a lead in the third term, kicking 2.5 to Noradjuha-Quantong’s one goal to hold a 15-point lead heading into the final term.
Noradjuha-Quantong kept fighting until the end, kicking three goals to one in the last quarter but was unable to bridge the gap.
Shane Oakley did the bulk of the damage up forward for the Bombers, kicking six goals. He was the only Bomber to kick multiple goals.
The Bombers sit in seventh, two points behind the Rams and now level with Laharum, and Rupanyup on 24 points.
Rupanyup coach Jack Musgrove said the win has given his side great belief going forward.
“With the Bombers going into the breeze in the last quarter and for us to hold them out was character building and put a lot of belief in the group,” he said.
“We went in firing and with the loss earlier in the year we didn’t want to let it happen again. With our finals hopes on the line the guys really lifted. Elliot Kelly and Matt Tyler played ripper games and our full forwards really played well. We missed a few chances and could have been further ahead.”
Musgrove hoped the win would give his side some momentum as the race for the sixth finals spot heats up.
“We had a lot of chances so we really want to capitalise on that in the next couple weeks but we had those opportunities which really helps,” he said.
“We are pumped up and we are really looking forward to next week against Laharum.”
Bombers coach Gareth Hose said across the whole game Rupanyup played better.
“It was disappointing not to get the result but if we did we would have stolen the game – I think they deserved to win,” he said.
“If they were more accurate in the first and third quarters we would have been further behind. We were still in striking distance and we have been finishing off games well this season, but we fell short.
“It seemed all the goals were scored to one end, which was strange because there wasn’t much of a wind.”
Hose said a number of his players put in a solid effort on the day.
“Jack Vague still soldiers on in the ruck and he was good for four quarters,” he said.
“Dusty Cross and Jason Kerr had good games and then some younger guys too in Wade Francis, Jye Walter and Ryan McAlpine were excellent. I thought Jordan Huff was stiff not to get in our best too.”