Kangas Bounce Raiders

Saturday, April 17, was a perfect day for football, with the opening round of the 2021 Central Murray Football Netball League at Barham, where the Koondrook River Raiders hosted the Cohuna Kangas. The weather was on the chilly side of 20 degrees with 15-20 kilometre south-westerly winds, which made the southern end of the ground troublesome to score, kicking into the wind and the pony club end for prime scoring opportunities. With the first game back for the Kanga’s since the 2019 season, the Cohuna Kangas Football and Netball teams paid tribute to former Reserves Coach the late Russell McLoughlan, who passed away tragically last year.

The Koondrook Barham Colts had a significant win. Unfortunately, Cohuna has suffered in the youth recruiting department as some eligible players chose not to return to footy after the COVID-19 break. Cohuna began with 11 Colts players and elevated players from under 14s to create the Colts side. With injury woes (Kangas Kye Treacy left the field and did not return with a badly dislocated finger), the River Raiders boosted the Kangas side with Raiders adorning the Kangas Jersey. The Koondrook Barham Colts won by 142 points; 22-12-149, Kangas 1-1-7. Goalkickers for the Raiders; Will Lake (9), Josh McMahon (6), Jake Lowry (1), Eli Boyd (1), Ned Mathers (2), Jasper Wilson-Keir (1) and Jordan Bassett (2). The sole goal kicker for the Kangas was Hudson Fountain.

If someone you know is eligible as a colt, even if they are sitting on the bench for their current team, maybe for a Thursday night and a Saturday, they could play for the Cohuna Kangas.

In the Reserves, it was a low scoring game. Koondrook Barham elevated Colt players to boost the Reserves side. However, the Kangas found the magic early and was able to penetrate the Raiders’ defence. By the end of the third quarter, the Kangas led by 21 points which could have blown out further with the siren sounding for the end of the quarter when the ball was in the Kangas forward line and scoring range. In a move to win the game, the Raiders decided to take risks instead of playing it safe in the final quarter. Kangas drew first blood in the last quarter, scoring a behind. The Raiders continued to tackle hard and gain possession driving the ball down to their forward line. However, the Kangas defence was strong, and the Raiders couldn’t convert, which caused significant issues for the Raiders and their efforts to win the game. Leaving everything out on the field, the Raiders scored one goal in the final quarter as the Kangas scored one goal and two behinds to win by 25 points: 8-13-61 to the Raiders 5-6-36.

In the Seniors, the Kangas drew first blood in the match by scoring a behind, then added another behind to the tally before the Raiders could move the ball into their forward line. Tension was high with the Raiders trying to get scores on the board; the crowd groaned in disappointment after a ball sailing in for a goal hit the post for a behind for the Raiders. The youth of the Raiders was up against a Kangas’ side who had recruited well, and players’ experience showed. The Kangas’ ability to move the ball quickly from one end to another was troublesome for the Raiders, who were sluggish to start. The Raiders tackled strongly, however, they could not convert possession into a score. In the end, Cohuna Kangas (12-22-124) was too strong for the Koondrook Barham River Raiders (10-13-75).

“It will be a focus to improve the simple things each week as a basis for our development,” said Seniors Coach Shane Guerra. Raiders goal scorers, Kade Watts (1), Cameron Arnold (2), Kye Attwell (2), Matthew O’Dwyer (1), Bailey Laursen (1), Tom Guerra (1) and Morgan Turvey (1). 

Cohuna Kangas goal scorers were Dylan Johnstone (2), Rhys Free (4), Tyler Jones (2), Daniel Coates (3), Tom Toma (4), Jakob De Winter (1) and Tyson Farrant (1).

The River Raiders will head to Lake Boga the home of the Magpies, for the second round clash Saturday, April 24.