Marrar Bombers rise to North Wagga's challenge, extending winning streak to eight games with 32-point victory

For the second time in as many weeks the Bombers rose to the challenge of a top-four rival, going to another level under pressure in the final quarter at Langtry Oval.

After seeing a four-goal lead midway through the third quarter cut back to just five points by the break, the home side powered home with a 27 points to nil final term.

"I reckon we lifted. We got a couple of good clearances and our ball use improved after that let us down at times in the second and third quarter - and that's due to the opposition pressure too," Marrar coach Shane Lenon said.

"I'm happy with the group and how they responded. I'm pretty proud of their efforts, that's for sure."

Their 10.8 (68) to 5.6 (36) win reversed the result of their only loss, at North Wagga early in the season, and stretched Marrar's winning streak to eight games.

Off the back of ruckman Nick Molkentin, they put North Wagga on the back foot early in every quarter.

The start to a frenetic first term was tight, with a goal each in the first seven minutes, before Marrar surged with three goals in five minutes for a 17-point lead halfway through the first quarter.

A minute after quarter-time, James Lawton joined Rhys Mooney on two goals each and Marrar had five goals straight on the board for a 22-point lead.

North Wagga, stopped the bleeding but went goal-less themselves in a less intense second term and eight minutes after half-time, Lawton's third goal and third behind had them up by 24 points.

But Saints weren't done. They showed resilience to swing into action and mount some some scoreboard pressure with three unanswered goals, while keeping Marrar scoreless for the last 12 minutes to head into three-quarter-time within a kick, and with momentum.

But a Molkentin-Chris O'Donnell combination at the first bounce of the fourth helped set up Zach Walgers for an immediate goal and the Bombers were running downhill from then on.

A turnover was rewarded with Walgers grabbing his second. When he then created space for Mooney, the forward kicked his third - a brilliant 45-metre snap from the boundary that brought a roar from the big crowd - and the deal was sealed.

Lawton (4.4) goaled on the siren topping off what was an all-round team performance. Although it was set-up down back through Liam James, Dan O'Bryan, Blake Walker and Jack Reynolds, and Mooney and Walgers had big moments forward, Marrar had contributors everywhere.

They were also a man down after the first quarter with Dan O'Reilly concussed in a Ben Alexander tackle.

"It's good to see a group of blokes do that but they give themselves a chance because of the way they prepare and train... you can't respond like that if you cut corners," Lenon said.

Saints didn't shirk the issue at all but early, Marrar made them pay dearly for momentary lapses. They weren't given an easy ride back into the contest, but found a way, but in the fourth, the Bombers went to a gear they couldn't match.

Wing Rhyce Donely led their efforts while Elliott Winter was tireless in the middle, Lachie Johnson played a strong game on Lawton down back and Bailey Clark got himself involved.

Full-time:

Marrar 4.0, 5.2, 6.5, 10.8 (68)

North Wagga 1.2, 1.5, 5.6, 5.6 (36)

Goals: (Marrar) James Lawton 4, Rhys Mooney 3, Zacharie Walgers 2, Joshua Connellan 1; (North Wagga) Daniel Jordan 1, Nathan Dennis 1, Josh Thompson 1, Kirk Hamblin 1, Corey Watt 1.

Best: (Marrar) Blake Walker, Jack Reynolds, Nicholas Molkentin, Jackson Moye, Harry Reynolds, Liam James; (North Wagga) Bailey Clark, Rhyce Doneley, Benjamin Keith, Matthew Thomas, Luke Mauger, Ben Alexander.

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