Munglinup Bombers win 15.7 (97) to 6.3 (39). Photo: Geoff Vivian.
The first few minutes of play set the tone for the annual Munglinup vs Ravensthorpe and Districts Football Association exhibition match on Saturday.
With a full 12 months since their last game, the mighty Mungy Bombers were keen as a school of hungry herring.
They notched up three quick goals before the visitors managed to get the ball to their end of the Munglinup Oval, booting two quick goals in return.
Kicking was very accurate in the high-scoring first quarter, ending in a 14-point margin for Munglinup 5.2 (32) to the visitors 3.0 (18).
The Bombers retained the lead for the remainder of the half as the wind slowly picked up, making kicking slightly less accurate but still mostly Munglinup’s way before a half time score of 9.4 (58) to 4.2 (26).
Ominous clouds started scudding across the sky to the south at half time, with a few drops of rain falling as the Bombers took their first goal for the quarter.
Both sides scored consistently well in the penultimate term as rain steadily increased, with a torrential downpour just before three quarter time.
The downpour continued through the final break and most of the final stanza as the home side continued to pull away from the Ravens going on to win 15.7 (97) to 6.3 (39).
Photos: Geoff Vivian.
R&DFA coach Scott Major ranked Jimmy Grant, Jeff Fitzpatrick, Jesse Barnes and Sol Ebert among his more notable players for the day.
“I thought we were a bit unlucky not to get a few scores on the board, but they were deserving winners at the end of the day,” he said.
Major also paid tribute to Ravensthorpe Tigers stalwart Rod Daw, who was unable to attend.
“Rod Daw is one of the founders of our association when Munglinup used to be a part of it,” he said.
“It’s just really good to see some footy back here.”
With a squad of 21, Munglinup coach Kieran Barrett said he was pleased with the choice of players who came back home from as far as Perth to play on the day.
“We’ve got a few young guys in the team keen to show their colours because some of them don’t live within the area now,” he said.
“So they were very excited to put the jumper on and show what they can do.”
As in previous years, there were also players from one or two EDFA teams pulling on the red and black.
“It would be pretty hard not to mention Bill Featherstonhaugh, he was in the middle the whole day so he did a power of work,” Barrett said.
“And then Lachie Stewart and Charlie Stead; and Hayden Stewart in the ruck, he probably rucked 90 per cent of the game so he did a power of work in the middle.”
After the match more than 100 people gathered in the club rooms, gradually joined by the players for an evening of live music and casseroles to round out a very pleasant community event.
