Bulldogs enter top five with late game surge

RED Cliffs were SFNAL A Grade finals bound for about 85 per cent of their weekend clash at the Mildura Sporting Precinct against their challengers for fifth spot, South Mildura.

Unfortunately for the Tigers, that advantage didn’t include the final three minutes, as the Bulldogs surged past them and into the five with a tough 39 to 36 victory.

The young Red Cliffs outfit has dropped four in a row since a bye and is four points behind South but by no means done as the Tigers have a superior percentage and face seventh-placed Merbein at home in this week’s final round, while the Dogs cross the river to challenge undefeated Wentworth.

“We had a bit of a lead all day, but it was pegged back going into the last quarter,” Red Cliffs coach Romany Bowen said of a two-goal edge.

“It just all came down to the final three minutes.

“We threw it away. It was all on our own back, it wasn’t anything else really. We threw passes that weren’t on. We didn’t play the smart game. We played the fast game. We’ll go back to training and look at that again for next week.

“We should have done better, we can do better, and we will do better next time.”

Now the Tigers’ season 2025 all comes down to a clash with the unpredictable five and 10 Magpies.

“We’ve got Merbein and they are always tough, so we are not expecting any easy ride whatsoever,” Bowen said. “I thought for the most part today, until those last three minutes, we played really, really well.

“We were there for each other and our defence was spot-on. I’ve got a young side, and we go through this and learn from it, but sooner or later we’ve got to do more than talk about it and stop the rot.”

On a gruelling day, some familiar names rose to the occasion for Red Cliffs.

“Morna (Naquto) was sensational today and Ili (Sovau) stepped up … she had been coasting along a little bit, so I asked for some more from her and she really came to play,” Bowen said.

“Jorja (Parker) played a great team game today and also worked well with the shooters.”

In the South camp, they are not looking too far ahead and just enjoying their first time in the top five this SFNL A Grade season.

“Red Cliffs came out strong, as we knew they would, but we gained momentum as the game progressed and kept our heads to get over the line. It was another great win,” veteran defender Sharne Lane said.

“There were lots of turnovers in the early going and Red Cliffs made more of their opportunities.

“It was a physical game and that just added to the excitement and desperation. With two talls in the Red Cliffs’ ring, Regan (Zaxos) and I had to work out how to capitalise on the pressure put on by Tara (Bate) and Tayla (Sellens) to get rebounds and intercepts.

“Alyse Ross was dynamic in her attack on the court and added pressure when the the Tigers caused turnovers.

“It was tough in both rings as Morna and Ili created plenty of turnovers with added pressure from Frances (Naquto) on the outside. But our shooters Sophie (Fox) and Macey (Andriske) stayed calm.”

Now for mission seemingly impossible out at the George Gordon Oval courts for another afternoon clash.

“I didn’t play in the last game against Wentworth, so I don’t know what it feels like on court against them this year,” Lane said.

“We will just give it our best and fight to the end.”

The Bulldogs will be keeping an eye on the earlier game between Red Cliffs and Merbein, which could decide their fate, before they take to the court at 2.30pm.

“I’ve looked at Merbein’s results and have seen they have been up and down, so you never know,” the defender said.

“Red Cliffs are a very young team, so they need to figure out how to regroup. Merbein are hard at the ball too. It will come down to who has the most discipline on the day.”

SCORES

South Mildura	39
Red Cliffs	36