Another premiership contender has emerged after a gripping round 14 in Picola District Football Netball League.
Katamatite was in a rich vein of form heading into Saturday’s match against Katunga, with the Tigers having won 10 straight games — one of which handed rival Katandra its first loss of the season.
After a disappointing round 13 performance against Tungamah, Katunga was keen to bounce back and find some form in the final third of the home and away season.
Although the match was held at the Tigers’ home ground, it was the Swans who got off to a red-hot start, booting seven goals to three in the opening term.
Katunga held a four or five-goal lead from then until three-quarter time and despite the wet conditions, the Swans were deadly accurate in attack, kicking 13.3 across the first three quarters.
While spirited Tigers fans who had braved the harsh conditions to attend the match would have been hoping for a final-quarter comeback from Katamatite, it wasn’t to be.
The Swans continued on in the final term, booting 3.6 to the Tigers’ 0.2 to finish the match as 56-point winners.
It was an impressive performance by Katunga and the victory has launched the Swans into the conversation as a premiership contender alongside the likes of Katamatite, Katandra, Strathmerton and Waaia.
Following the match, Katunga co-coach Nick Flanagan said he was impressed with how his side regained its mojo after the previous weekend’s disappointing loss to the Bears.
“The boys were keen to redeem themselves,” he said.
“We had a few injuries, but the response from the boys was excellent from start to finish.
“Our contested footy was really strong and we probably handled the wet and slippery conditions a bit better than Katty did, to be honest.
“Around the contest, we were able to keep surging the ball forward, and despite the slippery conditions, our tall forwards were able to clunk a couple and hit the scoreboard as well.
“The thing I am most pleased about was the contribution from our younger players right across the board as it was an even performance, and we knew that would have to be the case if we were going to get the chocolates, and we were able to do that.”
Flanagan said the work rate and output from his key forwards, despite the wet conditions, was a major factor in the result.
“We got three goals out of (Sam) Arho, three goals out of Darcy Laffy, which was a major contribution given it was pretty slippery,” he said
“Cam Bishop and Josh Smith through the middle of the ground were just winning stoppages and clearances and Nic Thorp, our ruck, was really influential in that area.
“The two Harris brothers, Aiden and Jackson, were certainly influential in surging the ball forward and putting pressure on their (Katamatite) defence.”
In other round 14 football matches, Strathmerton forward Tim Looby is within arm’s reach of the 100-goal mark (he is now on 97 goals from 13 matches) after his incredible 20-goal effort against Yarroweyah on Saturday.
The Bulldogs blitzed the Hoppers in a one-sided affair, winning the match by 212 points.
Katandra remains on top of the ladder after securing its 11th win of the season against Mathoura.
Utility Corey Hickford booted three goals for the Kats in their 42-point win over the Cutters.
Tungamah stayed in touch with the top six after it defeated Berrigan by 13 points.
Bears forward Lachy Thompson was the star of the show, finishing with six goals.
Waaia forwards Charlie Burrows (10 goals) and Connor Brown (seven) were dominant in the Bombers’ 111-point win over Rennie.
Deniliquin Rovers defeated Tocumwal by nine points, with Rovers forward Tyson Willis kicking five goals.
Meanwhile, Picola United beat Blighty by 208 points.
In the Picola District league netball, Katandra defeated Mathoura by 50 goals away from home, while Tungamah also secured a dominant victory after beating Berrigan by 29 goals.
Katamatite defeated Katunga in a thriller at home, with the Tigers just pipping the Swans, 41-38.
Strathmerton won its match against Yarroweyah in a high-scoring affair (41-71).
Rennie defeated Waaia by eight goals, while Deniliquin Rovers beat Tocumwal by 26.
Picola United lost to Blighty 54-48.