The Merimbula Diggers were able to cause an upset over the Narooma Lions on Saturday, while the Panthers were too much to handle for the Eden Whalers.
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At the Pambula Sporting Complex, the Whalers had contained the Panthers in the opening quarter, but the hosts proved far too strong in the middle and in the air to build a tremendous lead, going on to win 25-16-166 to 3-4-22.
The Whalers had kept the Panthers scoreless for the opening 11 minutes of the game on Saturday and with both teams under plenty of defensive pressure the early points came from a series of behinds.
However, nearing the quarter-time siren the Panthers began to make moves out of the middle and from deep in their own defensive lines to start securing a few goals.
Sean Smith showed why he is a club great of the Panthers with some tremendous passages across the park to lead the goal kicking with five for the day.
Meanwhile, Charlie Shephard and Shannon Butterfield were both right in the thick of play, kicking four goals each and contesting the ball extremely well through the fringes.
It was a different story for the Pambula ladies, who went down to Eden 5-13-43 to 1-1-7.
A spokeswoman for the club said more than a dozen players were unavailable on the weekend because of a music festival, leaving the Panthers fairly short-staffed on the weekend.
Ally Crowe and Kamilla Grubesic were the main destroyers for Eden, kicking two goals apiece as the visiting Whalers dominated forward passages of play.
Goal kicker Tayla Wilson and Annie Gilbert were among the strongest contenders for the home side on the day.
In Merimbula the Diggers all but stunned the visiting Lions 12-13-85 to 5-8-38 after both clubs had run dead-level in the opening quarter.
The Diggers surged ahead after the main break, shutting the Lions down to just a behind in each the third and fourth quarters to double Narooma’s score after leading by just five points at half-time.
Meanwhile, Lance Musgrave led the scoring with four goals for the hosts, while Dan Edwards and Dylan Jordan both kicked two each for the Diggers.
In a similar fashion to Pambula, the Merimbula ladies side didn’t quite fare as well, going down to the Lions 14-9-93 to 1-2-8.
The Sapphire Coast AFL competition continues this weekend with the Panthers heading to Tathra in both ladies and seniors, while the Diggers seniors have the bye.
The Diggers ladies play at Bermagui.
Jacob McMaster
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
I am passionate about amplifying people's stories and trying to do them justice in the written word. I find pressure washing videos soothing. email me jacob.mcmaster@austcommunitymedia.com.au or 0406 212 845.
