Tonny too good in C-res, again

But what’s the phrase? Form is temporary, class is permanent?

Tongala proved the adage after the main break.

The Mowers had inflicted a shock loss to the Blues’ record two weeks ago, but couldn’t handle Tongala’s quality across four quarters again.

The two sides were deadlocked at 20-20 heading into the third period.

Moama actually held a 24-23 lead early in the quarter as it started to leverage goal shooter Sarah Hendry’s height.

But as all defending champions do, Tongala roared back, with its close to the third setting up the victory.

The Blues ramped up their defensive pressure to force Moama into turnovers, scoring nine of the next 12 goals to lead 32-27 heading into the fourth.

Moama was on the verge of being down and out, but scored the first two of the final period.

But its margin for error was small, and the Blues produced one last push to put the nail in the coffin.

Wing attack Tootie Brennan and goal shooter Mikaela Pyke took over down the stretch.

The former’s feeds into the goal circle were often perfectly weighted while the latter made some excellent catches and was accurate when it mattered.

Once Tonny’s lead ballooned beyond five, the sense of defeat was evident in the body language of the Moama players.

The final margin would be nine, the Blues winning 43-34.

“It feels bloody great,” Tongala player-coach Pyke said.

“We knew that it was going to be a really tough game.

“But we just trusted the process today, and we knew that if we just played our game, which we did, and credit to us for doing that, for sticking to our structures, we could trust that the result would follow.”

Both sets of players should be commended on putting on an engrossing, physical encounter in the searing heat.

Hendry’s one-on-one battle with Blues goalkeeper Tahlia Gordon was a particular highlight.

Meanwhile, Tongala mid-courter Brennan was named best-on.

“Tootie is our absolute biggest hype girl for sure,” Pyke said.

“She gets around the girls, she lifts everyone up, and she leads by example, so really well deserved for her.

“Absolute weapon.”