Riverine Herald Digital Edition

Undefeated Lions feast on hapless Magpies

By Bransen Gibson

Moama has been handed its second defeat in as many weeks after falling to undefeated Mulwala by 70 points on Saturday.

The Magpies were held to just 2.2 in the first half and trailed by 40 points at the main break, with the Lions kicking away in the second half to win 17.12 (114) to 6.8 (44).

Moama coach Sam Sheldon was full of praise for Mulwala after its win.

“They are a really good side, they’d be up there with as good a side as we have played this year,” Sheldon said.

“Their boys were right up and about and went hard from the getgo and we just couldn’t go with them.”

“Mulwala came out with the right attitude, started well and carried on with it. We were on the back foot from the start and then couldn’t pull it back in.”

It is the second loss in a row for the Magpies who started off the season with five-straight wins.

Sheldon said the team knew it had areas to improve in.

“There’s a few things that we need to correct and work on going forward, but they haven’t changed for us the whole season,” he said.

“We have to keep continuing to get better at what we do. Better with our disposal efficiency, better around the contest and continue on with that for four quarters.

“We need more out of everyone not just a select few each week.”

The Magpies have had a number of injuries in recent weeks and Sheldon said that had had an impact on the team.

“We’re still learning as a side and learning to play together,” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of changes over the last three or four weeks with some big injuries and we’ve had a couple more on the weekend again.

“We’re learning to fill the roles in the team and come together quickly and be competitive.

“We’ve just got to get back on the horse, get to training and keep working towards what we’re doing.”

Fraser Buchanan and Nicholas Pavlou were Moama’s leading goalkickers with two goals each, with Darcy Bibby and Jye Smith both kicking one.

Pavlou, Jack Russell, Joshua Vick and Liam Ritchie were among the best for the Magpies.

Despite back-to-back defeats the Pies (5-2) are still sitting in the top six thanks to their strong start to the season.

They fifth-placed Pies will take on Numurkah, the team directly below them on the ladder, this weekend.

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2022-05-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

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