MFL | Moama climbs into top three with win over Rumba

By Bransen Gibson

Jun 5, 2022

Flying high: Moama's Jack Russell kicked two goals on Saturday in his side’s 78-point win over Rumbalara. Photo: Steve Huntley

The Moama Magpies have picked up back-to-back wins thanks to a dominant 78-point victory over Rumbalara on Saturday.

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The Magpies led at every change as they cruised past winless Rumbalara 13.14 (92) to 3.6 (24) to claim their seventh win of the season.

It is Moama’s second win over Rumba this season after it won by 80 points back in round one.

Moama coach Sam Sheldon said it was a solid result for his side in blustery conditions.

“The boys got up and got the job done, which was good,” Sheldon said.

“Rumba hung in there and never gave up. They gave us a fight which was good for the boys to get through.”

Fraser Buchanan and Stuart Taylor kicked three goals each for the Magpies, while Christopher Horman and Jack Russell both had two majors.

The Pies coach said Russell, Jye Smith and Nicholas Pavlou were three of the standouts for his side on Saturday.

“Jye Smith played the best game I’ve seen him play, which was great. He really stood up when we needed someone to stand up,” Sheldon said.

“Nick Pavlou and Jack Russell just did their thing again, they were really good.”

It was a crucial win for Moama, which now moves up in to third spot on the Murray Football League ladder after Tongala’s surprise loss to Congupna.

The Magpies are 7-2 at the half-way point of the season and three wins clear in the top six, with finals football certainly on the cards.

Sheldon said his side was in good shape heading into the second half of the season.

“Obviously the goal is to finish as high as you can and to play finals and give yourself a shot,” he said.

“We are well and truly in the hunt. It’s just a matter of continuing to improve between now and finals enough that we can really give it a shake.

“Now it’s just about getting that extra five to 10 per cent improvement before finals to really give it a good go.”

Sheldon said his side had come a long way from where it was at last season after finishing with five wins and missing the finals.

“We have improved dramatically from last year,” he said.

“We have a number of blokes that have come on really well like Jye Smith, Mitch Lake, Ned Osborne and Callum Doyle.

“We all committed from preseason to what we are trying to do and the results are paying off. We are winning a lot more games that we should win and putting ourselves in a good position.”

Sheldon said there were no injuries to report so far from the weekend, which is welcome news for a side that has had its fair share of players out this season.

He said he was hoping to have three or four players back this weekend, and hopefully the same again a week later.

The Magpies will take on Echuca United this weekend before a tough clash against Congupna in round 11.