Murray Bombers stay perfect in gritty win over Bears

Echuca lived up to the favouritism coming into the clash by piling on six goals in the first quarter, but the scoring dried up dramatically in the second as both sides went goalless at a gusty Deakin Reserve.

A 31-point half-time lead expanded to 44 at the last break as Echuca slotted three goals to Shepparton’s one, and despite an evenly matched final quarter, the result was never in question as the Murray Bombers kept their spot atop the Goulburn Valley League ladder.

It was a game many tipped Echuca to win, and while co-coach Sam Reid said it wasn’t the best spectacle, they will happily walk away with the points.

“It wasn’t the greatest game, but we’ll take the win,” Reid said.

“As long as we keep winning and getting games into young guys, we’ll be happy.

“The last two weeks we’ve started well, but you just have to keep adapting. We’re at the top and teams are coming at us.”

Echuca co-captain Will Monahan starred with three goals, keeping up his consistent start to the season, while Curtis Townrow also earned Reid’s praise after a week off.

“Curt was pretty good down back, he came back into the side and had a really good game,” Reid said.

“Will Monahan is having six, seven shots a week at the moment, he’s on fire and playing really well.

“We’re pretty dynamic down forward at the moment. We had around nine goal-kickers again.”

Reid and Logan Prout were also involved in the best players, while Bryce Stephenson, Ned Byrne and Tyron Baden were the pick of the home side’s performers.

Echuca’s record now stands at 5-0, pipping second-placed Seymour on percentage as the Lions also kept their unbeaten run alive with a strong win over Mansfield.

The Murray Bombers could improve to 7-0 with games against last-placed Benalla and Shepparton United (1-4) in the next two rounds.