The Pambula Panthers are not letting the Tathra Sea Eagles out of their sight with a result over Merimbula in Saturday's local derby.
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The result sees the Panthers holding on to level-pegging with the Sea Eagles after round eight after taking home the biscuits 10-8-68 to 6-3-39 over the Diggers.
From the outset the Panthers showed exceptional control in the air and with some long range kick options that the Diggers were under immense early pressure.
The Merimbula club did not shy away from the contest and pursued the ball relentlessly picking up a few kicking options of their own, but the Panthers appeared a little more composed in front of goal and found a few early options.
Sean Smith and Mitch Wallis made some great forward movements out of the middle, while Tom Kellar and Kyle Tucker were also highly active around the ball.
Up front though it was Justin Pilgrim and Jono Di-Donato sharing the honours with three goals apiece for the day.
Out of the Merimbula camp Tom Adams was kept busy through the middle, while Dylan Jordan got in the middle of the ball contest with the Diggers able to launch a few counter-attacks out of their own half.
Unfortunately for the Diggers, the Panthers backs were stoic and shut down a number of forward movements to keep a dominance of possession in their own attacking half.
Aiden Joiner did get the best of a few options, picking up a pair of goals for the Diggers, while Adams, Jordan, Damon Kerr and John Simos each put the boot to a single major.
The Diggers got their own back earlier when they had a strong win over the Wyndham Wedgies in reserve grade 12-3-75 to 4-3-27.
Doug Stubbs and Kris Collins led the charge for the Diggers kicking four and three goals respectively, while all four of the Wedgies' four goals had come off the boot of attacking forward Sam Grant.
It was a punishing encounter for the Wyndham outfit with the Diggers posting a near 50-point lead by half-time before the visitors had put a goal on the scoreboard.
In women's, the Diggers ladies played host to the competition-leading Tathra Sea Eagles and were handed a sound loss 16-14-110 to 0-0-0.
Peta Warden kicked five goals for the visitors, while the Sea Eagles also boasted a trio of players firing three goals apiece between the uprights.
This weekend will see a Queen's Birthday long weekend bye, and next week the Panthers host Tathra, while the Diggers are on the road to clash with Narooma at Bill Smyth Memorial Oval.
The Diggers are home to Bega in reserves and ladies, while the Wyndham Wedgies head to Eden.