A happy Rochester team walks off Moon Oval after defeating Euroa on Friday night.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Rochester has kept its unbeaten start to the Goulburn Valley League season alive, but not without a genuine scare from a gutsy Euroa outfit under lights at Moon Oval on Friday night.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Tigers led at every change and walked away 15-point winners — 10.17 (77) to 9.8 (62) — but the final scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story.
After bursting out of the gates with a five-goal opening term to lead by 20 points at quarter-time, Rochester looked set to blow the game open.
But a string of missed chances either side of half time opened the door for Euroa, which refused to go away.
Euroa’s Jayden Gleeson and Rochester’s Tobie Woodfine contest the ball.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Image 2 of 4
Rochester’s Cooper Hamilton lines up a centre clearance.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Image 3 of 4
Rochester’s Mitch Cricelli takes a towering mark.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Image 4 of 4
Euroa’s Ryan Hill attempts to spoil Rochester’s Tobie Woodfine.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
The Magpies cut the margin to two points during a third-quarter push, taking advantage of Rochester’s wastefulness in front of goal.
The Tigers managed just 2.11 across the second and third terms, and for a brief period, Euroa had all the momentum.
To their credit, Ash Watson’s side responded when it mattered.
Rochester added three final-quarter goals to steady and close out the contest, but the performance will leave plenty to review ahead of a huge clash with Mansfield next weekend.
Mitch Cricelli was again the standout up forward, finishing with five goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Kyle Waters and Sean Williams each kicked two, while Nash Ramage added the final major.
Cricelli’s start to the season has been pivotal, kicking ten goals in three weeks and giving the Tigers a consistent target inside 50.
Euroa may have left Moon Oval empty-handed, but they showed plenty after a disappointing start.
Will Creevey kicked two, while Lachlan Hill, Zac and Jayden Gleeson, Jett Trotter and Declan Redfern all hit the scoreboard.
Eight goal-kickers painted the picture of a side that moved the ball with intent and didn’t rely on any one forward to hit the scoreboard.
The Magpies are still searching for their first win of the season, but this was a performance they can build from.
For Rochester, it’s three wins from three — following a 79-point thumping of Seymour in round one and a grind-it-out win over Mooroopna in round two.
Friday night’s result sees them sitting fifth on the ladder, equal on points with four other unbeaten sides.
They’ll return to Moon Oval in round four to face Mansfield in one of the most anticipated games of the season so far.
The Eagles are also 3–0, having claimed wins over Shepparton United, Euroa, and Benalla in the opening three weeks.
