Omeo Benambra made it to the top of the Omeo District junior football mountain, defeating perenial contender Lindenow South.
The Swampies were the only side to test Omeo during the home and away season, sharing the points in round 12.
However, the Ranges completed an undefeated season last Saturday, defeating the Swampies by 26 points in part due to keeping South scoreless in the opening quarter.
The Ranges threatened to take the game away from South in the opening 10-minute period with continual attacking ball movement deep into scoring territory.
Lindenow South’s defence held firm under constant threat in the opening eight minutes, conceding just one rushed behind.
The inaccurate start was followed by a further rushed behind and another miss from best afield, Oaklee Pearce, but that inaccuracy was finally corrected when Pearce found Mitch Naylor for the first goal.
Xavier Hill added the Ranges’ second from long range after earning a holding-the-ball free kick, giving the Ranges the lead their play deserved.
Pearce added another with a quick snap on the stroke of quarter time as the Ranges led by 21 at the first break.
South was playing catch-up from there on and managed to close the gap to 19 at half time on the back of a two-goal-to-one quarter. They edged two points closer again during a tight third term, with lively forward Mason Irish (four goals) keeping his side within reach. That included a fine set shot from deep in the right forward pocket that got his side within 12 points at the 11-minute mark. Cody Howe responded for the Ranges soon
after with what would be the final goal of the term.
Trailing by 17 points, the Swampies had to throw everything at the Ranges in the final 20 minutes and did so initially, Irish drilling his fourth with a clever snap early on to close the gap to 11.
Omeo Benambra had its chances to put the result beyond doubt over the following 10 minutes, but missed three times.
The Ranges were dominating play and got their reward when a defensive turnover allowed Xavier Hill to nail a set shot for a 20-point lead.
When Pearce found Naylor soon after from the resulting centre bounce, the Omeo big man sealed victory with a set shot major.
Pearce was in everything for the Ranges, dangerous around goal and a great user of the football further up the ground.
James O’Keefe, Xavier Hill and Oscar Hill used their pace and skill to outwork their opponents, while Naylor was a constant presence in the air and with his long kicking.
Dominic Faithfull, Kalen Fry, Alexander Berry, Mason Irish, Riley Nicklen, and Casey Roy were named South’s best.
FINAL SCORE
Omeo Benambra
3.3 4.8 6.8 8.11 (59)
Lindenow South
0.0 2.1 4.3 5.3 (33)
GOALS – Omeo Benambra: M. Naylor 3; X. Hill 2; C. Howe 2; O. Pearce 1. Lindenow South: M. Irish 4; M. Preston 1.
BEST – Omeo Benambra: Oaklee Pearce, Es O’Reilly, Xavier Hill, Mitchell Naylor, Tyler Mitchell, Izabelle Symons. Lindenow South: Dominic Faithfull, Kalen Fry, Alexander Berry, Mason Irish, Riley Nicklen, Casey Roy.
