Panthers coach Paul (Feathers) Noack said he knew it was going to be tough but he did not expect the scores to be level at three quarter time. 

“Our first half was pretty slow going. We couldn’t match them in the centre,” Feathers said.  

Despite the Pathers leading 14-2, impressing rucking from the Merimbula ruckman Jack Burch along with fantastic clearances by Diggers onballers Daniel Warden and Will Regan meant the Diggers were able to claw the game back to level the score at the big break.

The Panthers copped a spray from Feathers at half time but this didn’t stop the Diggers who came out firing, scoring three quick goals to take a 25 point lead – which could have been worse without Charlie Shepherd and Justin Dickson excelling off the Panthers’ back line.  

The Panthers then brought Kyle Tucker into the ruck and moved Jake Taylor up forward. These changes made the difference helping the Panthers pull back the Diggers’ lead to make it 43 all at three quater time. 

The Panthers then ran away with a 50 point turn around, 11.8-74 to 7.7- 49. 

“A lot of people get their heads down when they’re behind, I was impressed we turned that deficit around,” Feathers said. 

In the women’s the Panthers proved too strong for the Diggers for a final score of 10.15- 75 to 2.3- 15. 

The Panthers got to a 22 point lead in the first quarter, but the Diggers fought hard in the second, only conceeding four behinds. 

Panthers coach Jo Furniss commended the Diggers on their huge improvement. 

“Having played the Digger’s in Round 1, we were expecting improvement but found ourselves rattled when they came out firing,” Furniss said. “We had to work hard to win the ball out of the centre, and the Diggers challenged us from the first bounce.

“In the second half, we gained composure and maintained our lead due to our strong back line, which has been solid all season.”

The day’s highlight occurred in the Development grade when long time Diggers player Pauly Zeller took to the field and scored his first ever goal, followed by an even better second goal. Congratulations Pauly.