Strathmerton has staved off a resilient Mathoura in blustery conditions away from home, while Katamatite came out on the wrong side of a one-goal thriller against Deni.
Taking on a side nine spots below them on the ladder, on paper the Bulldogs’ clash against the Timbercutters in Mathoura seemed like it would be a straightforward encounter. But the seven-point victory was anything but.
A stiff breeze blowing across the ground made it difficult for both sides to impact the scoreboard, with Strathmerton’s inaccuracy tightening the contest even further.
The Dogs kicked just 2.8 over the first two quarters, holding a slender four-point lead heading into half time. But that advantage didn’t last long following the break.
It looked like an upset was on the cards as Mathoura kicked 3.1 to Strathmerton’s 1.3 in the third term, with the home side up by six at the final change.
But the Dogs held the Timbercutters to just one behind in the final stanza, with two goals of their own enough to snatch a 5.13 (43) to 5.6 (36) win.
In Deniliquin, Katamatite was locked in an arm-wrestle of a contest against fellow top eight side the Rovers.
The Tigers led at the end of the first three quarters, but only held a slim three-point lead heading into the final term.
There was plenty of action in the fourth quarter with plenty of goals at both ends, but it was the Rovers who came out on top in the seven-goal final term to prevail 10.11 (71) to 9.13 (67).
William Gorman kicked four goals for Katamatite.
Elsewhere, Katunga was too strong for Yarroweyah as the Swans had a thumping win, 23.27 (165) to the Hoppers’ 3.5 (23).
There was a huge boilover in the under-14s football as Yarroweyah caused one of the upsets of the season against the Swans.
Taking on a previously undefeated Katunga side, Dylan Henderson’s two goals and Isaiah Benson’s star performance helped the Hoppers earn a memorable 5.6 (36) to 3.6 (24) win.
On the netball court, Strathmerton bounced back form its defeat to Deni with a handy 16-goal win over Mathoura.
The 39-23 victory secured an important four points for a Bulldogs side in the thick of a top-six logjam on the ladder.
In other results, Deni smashed Katamatite 71-9 and Katunga triumphed over Yarroweyah 44-36.