Round 10 of Picola District Football Netball League is done and dusted with some intriguing results shaping the ladder at the halfway mark of the home and away season.
For Katamatite, it was able to secure a victory over fellow finals contender Strathmerton, but in strange circumstances.
The match was locked at 53-52 in the Tigers’ favour at three-quarter time before an unfortunate ankle injury to a Bulldogs player (believed to be Darcy Holding) resulted in the game being called off.
As the match was past half-time, a result was awarded, with Katamatite named the victor and moving into third position on the ladder.
Tigers coach James Hazelman said it was an odd feeling after the game.
“It’s a bit of a hollow feeling, to be honest,” he said.
“One of the (opposition) players dislocated his ankle and maybe a few fractures, so it was basically bang on three-quarter time.
“I know we have got the four points in the end, but it doesn’t really feel like a real victory in the end.
“Our thoughts are now, and at the time, are with the player injured.”
After the Bulldogs got off to a bright start to the match, the Tigers were able to slowly claw their way back into the contest, setting the stage for what Hazelman believes would have been a thrilling last quarter.
“Both sides sort of felt that the last quarter was going to transpire into something special,” he said.
“The game to that point had been pretty even and hotly contested, probably, to be honest, a draw would have been a fairer result, but you can’t really do much about it.
“From our point of view, we started really slow and they put the pressure right on us and we had to adjust a lot on the run and we slowly but surely got ourselves back into the game.
“I actually felt about 15 minutes prior to (the injury) we were starting to get on top and play our best footy, but what would have happened, no-one would know, I suppose.”
Strathmerton goal merchant Tim Looby was on fire early for the Bulldogs and finished the match with seven of his side’s eight goals, but Hazelman was proud of his captain Nic Clurey’s efforts to thwart the opposition’s spearhead.
“We had to throw our captain Nic Clurey onto Tim Looby, who was tearing us to shreds, to be completely honest,” he said.
“First 20 minutes of the game, he (Looby) kicked four or five goals, so that was one of the adjustments we had to make and I think Clurey going back was really competitive and changed the game for us as well.
The final score finished 8.4 (52) to 8.5 (53) in Katamatite’s favour.
Jerilderie backed up its impressive performance against Katandra last round (it lost by one goal away from home) with a four-point win over Tungamah, 10.10 (70) to 10.6 (66).
Forwards Jethro Calma Holt and Kane Hawkins both bagged four goals in a vital win for the Demons.
Katandra is now one win clear on top of the ladder after it demolished Yarroweyah by 229 points.
The Kats had 16 different goal kickers, with midfielder Josh Kezerle the pick of the bunch after kicking a game-high six goals.
Waaia got back to winning ways after it defeated Berrigan by 97 points.
Bombers duo Connor Brown and Charlie Burrows combined for 11 goals with six and five, respectively.
Katunga continued its hot form by defeating Tocumwal 17.11 (113) to 7.7 (49).
Deniliquin Rovers claimed a win away from home after they beat Rennie by 25 points.
Rovers’ Tyson Willis kicked the most goals for the match with four.
Mathoura moved to sixth place on the ladder after defeating Blighty by 55 points.
In Picola District League netball, Deniliquin Rovers remain the only team with a perfect record in the A-grade competition after defeating Rennie by 48 goals (15-63).
Tungamah remained in touch with the top half of the ladder after it defeated Jerilderie by 14 goals (29-43).
Katandra had a strong performance away from home against Yarroweyah, winning the match 16-90.
Strathmerton avenged its footballing brothers with a seven-goal victory over Katamatite (35-28).
Katunga secured its sixth win of the season with a 10-goal victory over Tocumwal.
Waaia defeated Berrigan away from home 25-42, while Mathoura had a commanding 20-goal victory over Blighty (40-20).