By Trevor Jackson
KALANGADOO 13.15 (93) d ROBE 11.7 (73)
AN entertaining clash played out over at Kalangadoo in Round 7 of Bendigo Bank Mid South East football, as the home side was victorious by 20 points over Robe to claim top spot on the ladder.
The two sides came into the contest unbeaten, with Robe sitting top, just a few percentage points ahead of Kalangadoo.
That all changed as the Magpies claimed and emphatic victory to leapfrog the Roosters and remain as the only side still undefeated.
It was a solid opening term which set up the victory, as the Magpies held a 11-point lead at the first break.
However, Kalangadoo did have eight scoring opportunities to Robe’s two in the first quarter, with inaccurate kicking keeping the game close.
Robe closed the margin slightly in the second term, but a huge third quarter from the home side built the pressure for the Eagles.
Six major scores to four extended the Magpies’ lead and it was catch-up football for Hatherleigh from there.
In the end Kalangadoo did enough to hold on for a comfortable win.
Ben Mules and Michael Krieger kicked three goals each for the victors, as did Jack Sneath and Angus Weir for the Eagles.
PORT MACDONNELL 12.17 (89) d HATHERLEIGH 10.10 (70)
Port MacDonnell and Hatherleigh played out an entertaining clash, with the home side up to the challenge down at the Bay.
A big first quarter set up the win for the Demons, as they controlled the contest early and only opened the door slightly in the third term.
After holding a handy 25-point lead at the long break, the Demons lost their way and kicked just one major score in the third quarter, while Hatherleigh was on fire, banging home five goals to close the margin to just six points.
However, the Demons ran the game out hard and claimed a well-deserved 19-point victory.
Kevin Thomson was a focal point up forward for the victors, with five classy goals.
Thomson used all his skills, bending goals from the boundary or simply running hard to create space to give the Demons the edge.
Hamish Stevens was the only other Demon with multiple goals, with two to his name.
Daron McElroy was named best for Port MacDonnell and while he had no direct impact on the scoreboard, his work up the ground helped create opportunities for his team mates.
Joe Ferguson-Lane kicked three goals for Hatherleigh, while Louis Brown added two.
Port MacDonnell remains clear in third place on the ladder after the win, while Hatherleigh remains in fourth, in a tight tussle with Mount Burr and Kongorong, all on 12 premiership points.
KONGORONG 14.17 (101) d GLENCOE 8.10 (58)
A big second half of football saw Kongorong run out easy victors over Glencoe on the Murphies’ home turf.
There was nothing to separate the two sides after an even opening term, while Glencoe held thelead at the long break, albeit by just one point.
It set up what promised to be an entertaining second half of football, but did not deliver.
The Hawks came out firing after the long break and ran away with the game, with five major scores to one in the third term, followed by another five in the last stanza to run the game out.
While Michael McRae topped the goal-kicking list, with four majors for Glencoe, Matt Cordy, John Simkin, Cameron Smith and Cameron Sandercock all kicked two for Kongorong.
They were joined by a handful o f single goal kickers to ensure the Hawks claimed the win.
MOUNT BURR 24.18 (162) d NANGWARRY 6.9 (45)
Mount Burr made short work of its clash with Nangwarry, with an easy victory despite a relatively even first term.
Nangwarry was competitive in the opening stanza, trailing by just 10 points at the first break.
However, from there it was one-way traffic, with the Saints unable to kick a goal after the long break.
The Mozzies were relentless and never let up, banging on seven goals in the final term to stamp their authority on the game.
Jack Gregory topped the list of goal scorers with five majors, Nathan Muhovics kicked four, Kallan Bevan and Josh Wallis three each, while Taylor Allen, Andrew Ridley and Thomas Hales all kicked two.
Ben Just kicked two for Nangwarry.
