The Koondrook Barham River Raiders travelled to Nyah to face the top team on the Senior ladder, Nyah Nyah West United. The overcast and windy conditions made one goal end more favourable for scoring.

Nyah’s Alex Erlandson kicked the match’s first goal against the wind as the midfield competition intensified. Nyah’s Brandyn Grenfell kicked a behind before Raiders’ Jordan McKinnon scored a goal while on the run. United regrouped and started adding to their score. Nyah’s defence made it challenging for the Raiders to convert.

By the end of the first quarter, the Raiders had scored one goal and one behind, while Nyah had scored four goals and four behinds.

Nyah’s dominance continued through the second quarter until Raiders’ Xavier Leonard kicked a goal on the run near the end of the quarter. By halftime, United had a 48-point lead.

At the start of the third quarter, a handball from Ryan Bassett led to Kye Attwell’s goal for the Raiders. Around the 10-minute mark, Raiders’ Jordan McKinnon scored his second goal on the run. Kye Attwell scored his second goal during extra time.

The Raiders won the quarter with three goals and one behind, while Nyah scored three goals. Going into the final quarter, the Raiders were 47 points behind.

United stepped up their game in the final term, scoring five goals and four behinds, keeping the Raiders from scoring and extending their lead to 81 points.

Jack Shannon, Reagan Hamilton, Tom Amor, Scott Wood, Jack Thrum and James Martin were named the Raiders’ best.

The Raiders have a second game on the road, heading to Greenham Park to face Balranald on Saturday.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 25 July 2024.