On a big weekend of Picola District League Football one of the sport’s most prominent social media influencers debuted while the premiership race was split open like a coconut.
Round four delivered some interesting results, headlined by Katamatite’s upset victory over last year’s premier Waaia.
After an up-and-down start to the season for the Tigers (losing to Katandra by 79 points before beating Jerilderie by 90 last week), two separate fightbacks helped deliver them the biggest upset of the season.
Bombers’ Charlie Burrows started the match in blistering fashion, kicking four goals in 20 minutes as Waaia took a 36-11 lead heading into the first break.
Katamatite’s magnets were moved around at quarter-time as the Tigers looked to get back into the match, with Ben Connolly being tasked with restricting Burrows after his fast start.
The match continued as the Tigers tried to claw their way back, but inaccuracy was costing the home side as it kicked 6.12 across the first three quarters to trail Waaia by 26 points heading into the last.
With its backs against the wall, Katamatite made one final charge, kicking 5.3 to 0.4 to snatch the lead in the dying stages, with the match-winner kicked by Tigers forward Dylan Callard.
Katamatite coach James Hazelman said one of the key moves that helped secure the Tigers’ comeback victory was Trent Steer’s shutdown role on Bombers gun Jesse Trower.
“We changed a few things at three-quarter time,’’ Hazelman said.
“Jesse Trower got on top of us in the third quarter, so we sent a bit of a tag to him for the third and last quarter and Trent Steers did a really good job on him.
“We were able to get a couple in the last quarter that we hadn’t been kicking throughout the day.
“They made a couple of plays going forward and, I think from memory, we got a free kick in their back 50 and then the siren went.
“Everyone was pretty ecstatic and I know the current playing group; there is only a select few of them that have beaten Waaia one or two times throughout their 10 years of playing, so they were pretty rapt.”
After losing in a disappointing manner to Katandra in round one, the Tigers have improved rapidly since, as Hazleman believes the loss to the Kats was the wake-up call his side needed.
“Really pleasing in the end to come away with the win,” he said.
“In the past two seasons, they have only lost two games prior to that, so we knew going into the game that it was going to be extremely tough for us to be competitive.
“We were on top of the game for large chunks of the match, but we couldn’t convert, and it wasn’t until that last quarter where we actually took our opportunities and were able to grind our way back.
“We were fortunate enough to hit the lead with a couple minutes to go and hold on.”
In other news across the league, social media influencer and football mercenary Tom Baulch (AKA Prime Train) made the journey to Katandra to play a one-off match for Blighty.
Baulch was everywhere for the Redeyes early, as Blighty hoped to cause an upset win over Katandra.
Unfortunately for the Redeyes, despite Baulch’s efforts (who finished among the best), after a tight first quarter, Katandra kicked 21 goals to Blighty’s four to win the game 26.14 (170) to 7.3 (45).
Kats midfielder-forward Henry Cook played a starring role with six goals to earn best-on-ground honours.
Tungamah bounced back from the previous weekend’s loss to Katandra with a 68-point win over Tocumwal, taking the Bears back into the top six on the ladder.
Strathmerton continued its unbeaten run with a 21-point victory against Picola United away from home.
Bulldogs forwards Adrian Crestani and Tim Looby both finished with four goals.
Mathoura was restricted to three scoring shots in its match against Katunga, as the Swans demolished the Timbercutters 15.18 (108) to 2.1 (13).
Swans forward Sam Arho finished the match with six goals, while George Brisbane won best-on-ground honours for his performance.
Deniliquin Rovers scored the highest total of the season in a 193-point battering of Yarroweyah.
The Rovers were dominant from start to finish as forwards Tyson Willis and Joshua Flight kicked nine goals apiece.
Meanwhile, Jerilderie finished with the second biggest round four win after defeating Rennie 20.22 (142) to 3.3 (21).
In the netball, Strathmerton continued its undefeated run with a 24-goal victory (23-47) over Picola United.
Katandra flexed its muscles with a commanding 77-37 victory over Blighty at home.
Deniliquin Rovers proved their premiership credentials with a mammoth victory over Yarroweyah, outscoring the opposition ninefold, 9-87.
Katamatite backed up its footballing counterparts with an 11-goal victory over Waaia (44-33).
The first draw of the A-grade season occurred with Tungamah and Tocumwal both finishing on 26 after four quarters.
In the final two matches, Katunga won comfortably over Mathoura 54-16, while Rennie defeated Jerilderie 44-35.