By Trevor Jackson
Mount Burr 19.20 (134) d Kongorong 13.6 (84)
Mount Burr chalked up its first win of the 2022 Mid South East football season, with a strong victory over Kongorong.
It was even more impressive considering the Mozzies had to come from behind, after trailing up to the half-time break.
The Hawks were out of the blocks fast, with six straight majors in the opening term, while inaccuracy in front of goals cost the Mozzies, as they kicked three majors and seven minor scores.
That trend continued somewhat in the second quarter, with Kongorong add four majors and one minor, while Mount Burr put on three goals and six behinds to trail by 12 points at the long break.
However, the Mozzies turned the tide in the third term, with another five goals, while limiting Kongorong to two and take a six-point advantage to the final break.
From there it was all Mount Burr, with an eight-goal final term to seal the deal.
Jack Gregory lit up the scoreboard with nine majors, Hamish Smith added four, Will Bowering three and Nathan Muhovics two.
For Mount Burr coach Reece Duncan it was simply good to return to the winner’s list, especially after such a tough opening half.
“We did it the hard way,” he said.
“Kongorong came out firing and ready to go and they definitely put it to us.
“But credit to our guys we were able to finish the way we did.
“We were going goal-for-goal for a while and it was a hard-fought contest but I was happy with how our guys finished the game off in the last quarter.”
With the Mozzies still behind at the long break, it was a matter of doing the basics and trying to gain control of the contest.
“I just reminded the guys simple football means getting it, moving it forward and not trying to over complicate it,” Duncan said.
“The guys took it on, went out and went back to the basics.
“It was just a slight adjustment and it worked wonders.”
Duncan said he was pleased with the efforts of forwards Gregory and Smith, with Tom Fennell out injured.
“We lost Tom Fennell in the game against Glencoe so it has been a bit of a tweak up forward,” he said.
“Hamish and Jack worked well together so I am looking forward to see how they go for the season.”
As for the importance of the win, Duncan said it was huge.
“I put it to the guys it was a win-at-all-costs game,” he said.
“We didn’t play too well against Hatherleigh, then against Glencoe we just didn’t play the way we wanted to again.
“We went into that one looking for a win but weren’t able to capitalise on it.
“We needed to get one on the board.
“Saturday we had 21 contributors, no passengers and that’s the way you get a win.
“We are knocking on the door, we are right there and it is only a matter of when we can crack it open.
“Saturday wasn’t everything, it was good to get the win, but there is still more to do.”
