Bruthen may be feeling some deja vu after taking out its second “B” grade premiership in a row, beating Swan Reach by 20 goals in the Omeo District Football Netball League grand final last Saturday at Swan Reach.
Bruthen came out strong from the get-go, quickly opening up a three-goal lead in the first quarter, leaving Swan Reach shell-shocked.
Mistakes came thick and fast from both teams, with contacting and stepping causing plenty of turnovers.
The lead would later prove handy for the Bulldogs, further extending it to a five-goal margin by the end of the first quarter.
Going into the second quarter the Swans continued to struggle to convert from their centres, the consistent defensive pressure from the Bulldogs proving to be too good.
The rebounding work of Bruthen defenders Nicki Pollard and Sally Cameron in the ring kept the score in the Bulldogs’ favour.
Messy passing plagued both sides, however it was the accurate shooting from Bruthen’s Melissa Kennedy and Hannah Healey that allowed Bruthen to keep its five-goal lead as the game headed into half time.
Footwork continued to let down Swan Reach in the third quarter, and despite the hard of work of fast movers Abbey Wyatt and Breanna Janson for the Swans, the Bulldogs held firm, blowing out the margin to 11 goals by three quarter time.
As the final quarter began, Swan Reach turned up the defence.
But it was too little too late for the Swans, with clean team plays from the Bulldogs allowing them to score quickly and consistently – at the end of the game, Bruthen had extended the winning margin to 20 goals.
Bruthen’s goal attack, Melissa Kennedy, was named best on court for her accurate and consistent shooting.
Final score: Bruthen 37 d Swan Reach 17.