The Deniliquin Rams seniors were on the right side of a close game in Murray League action on Saturday.
Hosting the game, the Rams accounted for Echuca by only 13 points.
If you were unaware of the ladder position of these two sides, you would have thought you were watching a couple of top teams battle it out right until the end.
It was an extremely close game all the way through.
With Deni down by six points at three quarter time and a couple of injuries to Lachy MacDonald and Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, coaches Ash Morris and Gary Parsons asked the boys to dig deep and show everything they had in the last quarter.
The lads did not disappoint.
Cable Fitzpatrick and milestone man Brayden Hall controlled the aerial contests down back, while Todd Gallagher, Matt MacDonald, Bailey Townsend and Zach Lauriston were finding plenty of space through the middle of the ground.
Angus Durnan continued his great form in the forward line, with Ricky Gittens as always being lively up forward with a couple of goals.
Final score: Deni Rams 11.7 (73) def Echuca 9.6 (60).
The Rams have one more game against Nathalia before the season is over.
They will head into the match without Lauriston, who played his last game in the blue and gold on Saturday.
“One last shout out and best wishes to Zach who was a great acquisition to the club this year, and good luck in the future,” the club said.
Awards: Club Award - Cable Fitzpatrick; Club Award - Matt MacDonald; Globe Hotel - Todd Gallagher; White Lion Hotel - Jack Tyndall and Bailey Townsend; RUOK? - Brayden Hall; Rob Gittens Award - Zach Lauritsen.
The reserves also had a good day out against Echuca.
Final score: Deni Rams 13.7 (85) def Echuca 9.4 (58).
Awards: Deni Yamaha - Darcy McManus; Farley Plumbing - Brock Redden; Fitzpatrick Family - Logan Ives; White Lion Hotel - Lachlan Osborne; Globe Hotel - Rusty Stringer; R U OK - Riley Hamilton.
The Deni Rams thirds had a tough day on the park against a strong Echuca side on Saturday.
Final score: Deni Rams 3.5 (23) def by Echuca 14.7 (93).
Awards: Jen & Ken Bates - Will Dudley; Globe Hotel - Jack Sander; Club Singlet - Brodie Park; Intersport Deniliquin - Jack Rosbiffi; RUOK? - Jake Herberte; Players’ Player - Bede Orr.
The Deni Rams fourths kicked off the day against Echuca United at Hardinge St Oval on Saturday, with both sides looking to sharpen up before the finals.
The game, just like the fixture earlier in the season, was a very physical one with players on both teams cracking in hard at the contest.
It was the young Rams that took control with their discipline, run, acceptance of handballs and ball movement the best it’s been for a few weeks.
With the Rams defence holding up and the midfield working extremely hard all day to help them out, the Echuca side found it hard to gain any real momentum.
Up forward the Rams looked dangerous all day, with only inaccurate kicking at goal letting their opponents off the hook.
This weekend’s home game against Nathalia is the final home and away game of the year, and the fourths will look to sharpen up further before an exciting finals campaign.
Final score: Deni Rams 8.8 (56) def Echuca 2.3 (15).
Awards: Infrabuild - Matt Pitt; Club Singlet - Chase Bartlett; Club Cap - Charlie McCallum; Intersport Deniliquin - Oscar Wren; Intersport Deniliquin - Tynen Rothe; RUOK? - Rory Smith.