Early in the year it looked as any of the four top teams could be the ones to take the 2018 flag, but with finals looming, the Narooma Lions and Merimbula Diggers are building an unassailable advantage over the Pambula Panthers and Tathra Sea Eagles. 

The trend continued on the weekend when the Lions handed the Panthers a convincing loss at the Pambula Sporting Complex 18-18-126 to 7-10-52.

Meanwhile, the Diggers kept pace, boasting a strong result when they scored a 17-7-109 to 1-3-9 win over the Eden Whalers. 

In Pambula, the Lions’ fast-attacking forwards were unflappable despite some solid defensive efforts from the Panthers. 

Narooma were able to out-kick the home side two-to-one in the opening quarter, getting away to a 33-15 lead with Luke Talty heading the charge on the scoreboard for the visitors, kicking four goals across the game. 

Mitchell Wallis, Shannon Butterfield and Sean Smith all kicked a pair for the Panthers, while Harry Hards chipped in with one major in a best on ground effort for the hosts. 

However, it was not enough as the Lions flooded the front with goal opportunities from nine individual players on the day. 

Scoring continued in a similar fashion throughout with the visitors building to a 30-point lead by the main break 63-27, then extending to 77-37 at three-quarter time. 

The final quarter the Panthers ran a bit short of steam as the Lions kept up the relentless pressure, kicking seven goals to two to wrap up the strong result. 

Meanwhile, in Merimbula the result was almost never questioned with the Diggers surging to an early lead while giving Eden few opportunities to retalliate. 

The Whalers could only find one behind in the opening quarter, while the hosts built to a 30-point lead. 

In the second quarter the Whalers again were kept to just a single behind with the Diggers getting through to 53 points. 

In the third quarter the visitors clinched their only goal of the game and the final behind, while the Diggers added a modest addition to their lead. 

In the final quarter play was almost wholly in favour of the hosts as the Merimbula outfit bagged six goals while keeping Eden scoreless. 

Merimbula have the bye this weekend, while the Panthers travel to Eden to play the Whalers. Women’s matches also return.