Strathmerton and Katandra locked horns in the undisputed match of the round and it would be fair to say there was some unfinished business.
Last time the Bulldogs had a meeting with a side which threatened their minor premiership credentials, the game was stopped a quarter early following a serious injury concern that required intervention.
On that fateful afternoon at the start of June, Bulldogs dynamo and freshly-minted centurion Tim Looby had seven of his side’s eight goals before the premature conclusion meant Katamatite would prevail by a point, inflicting the first defeat of 2024 upon Strathmerton.
While Looby was not his usual centralising self up forward in Saturday’s action, he did nonetheless bag a couple of majors as expected, while Zack Betson led the line with three on the day.
This being the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Kats in 2024, Picola enthusiasts would have had this one circled on the calendar for much of the year as things took shape and, it’s safe to say, the contest delivered.
Having struggled over the line against Picola United a fortnight ago before settling for a draw with Tungamah the previous weekend, Katandra was staring a third winless game in the face after the Bulldogs jumped out early.
The two sides went blow-for-blow after the first interval, each notching 3.2 as the 14-point quarter-time buffer remained intact at the long break.
A scoreless third term was exactly what the doctor didn’t order for the Kats, but a bogged-down affair was never destined to blow out with the Bulldogs firing what would prove their final salvo of the day to lead at the final change by 20, proceeding to just hold out from then on.
In the end, four goals from Mitch Black on the day proved insufficient in preventing Strathmerton from crucially regaining top spot with a weekend to play as the Bulldogs held firm to prevail 8.8 (56) to 6.8 (44).
Bulldogs co-coach Nic Hoban lauded the variety of avenues his side took to goal.
“The last couple of weeks, we’ve been playing some good footy,” Hoban said.
“To come up against a good side that tests us all four quarters and for us to respond was really pleasing.
“For us to find different routes to goal shows the strength of our side, although Tim still played his role getting up the ground a fair bit.
“It was good to do that and come away with the result. It shows we’ve got plenty of depth, but it’s not about who’s kicking the goals as long as we get results.”
Katandra’s half-game advantage over Strathmerton and Katamatite would quickly become a half-game deficit on both after the Tigers saluted Saturday.
Not that they weren’t given a serious scare indeed by Jerilderie on the way, though.
The Demons turned on the jets with five goals in the opening term, but were held to just two thereafter as Mark Mills’ five snags eventually propelled the visitors to second spot with a 16.9 (105) to 7.2 (44) victory.
The league’s second and third-placed goalkickers manned opposite ends in Mathoura as Timbercutters spearhead Aron Burns put a couple more on the board against the half-dozen of Waaia’s Charlie Burrows.
Unfortunately for Mathoura, Burns’ pair of goals were the only two on the sheet at the final siren as the Bombers continued to gather steam heading into finals, trouncing their foes 21.14 (140) to 2.1 (13).
The result keeps Waaia half a game behind Katandra in fourth and a game behind the leading Bulldogs and Tigers - top spot has disappeared from sight, but third is a viable option if the Kats aren’t careful.
Led by the eight goals of Sam Arho, Katunga continued a rich vein of form with triple figures on the board by half time in a ruthless 25.11 (161) to 2.0 (12) win over Blighty, providing Waaia with precious little room to breathe.
Meanwhile, Picola United’s encounter with Tungamah in the final round next weekend will be for all the marbles as both sides come in on 38 points following wins on Saturday.
Picola United accounted for Deniliquin Rovers, 10.11 (71) to 4.8 (32), while Tungamah’s late charge continued after Lachy Thompson put a gigantic shift in with 18 goals in a 46.19 (295) to 0.2 (2) annihilation of Yarroweyah.
Outside of finals places, Tocumwal signed off its return to the Picola competition in high spirits after turning over Berrigan, 15.10 (100) to 3.9 (27), ahead of the final round bye.
There is perhaps not quite as much suspense around the last finals placings in the A-grade netball division, with Waaia going two games ahead of seventh-placed Tocumwal following a 60-8 rout of Mathoura.
The top four sides all posted victories, though, with Katamatite set to fend off the challenge of Deniliquin Rovers and Katandra to hold onto pole position in next weekend’s finale.
Following the Kats’ 45-37 win over Strathmerton, though, the Bulldogs are now on the outside looking in after Katunga took advantage and stole fourth spot with a mauling of Blighty.
