Kalangadoo secured the premiership points against Nangwarry and moved up to top spot when round six of the Mid South East Football League was played on Saturday.
The Magpies were fully aware the Saints had snatched the lead over reigning premiers Port MacDonnell in the last quarter of round five only to let the Demons boot the last four goals of the match.
As a result, Kalangadoo coach Kevin Stark and the hierarchy would have implored the team to go to the max in the opening three terms in order to have a substantial buffer when the teams swapped ends for the last time.
Magpies’ spearhead Michael Krieger became the second MSEFL player to post a double-digit number of goals in 2022.
His 10-goal haul takes his season’s tally to 26 and he now leads the MSEFL goalkickers by one over Hatherleigh coach Jake Dowdy.
Kalangadoo heads to Robe in round seven while Nangwarry and Mount Burr clash at the Riddoch Highway venue.
Hatherleigh V Glencoe
Ladder leader Hatherleigh showed no ill-effects from its fortnight’s break by travelling to Glencoe and returning with the premiership points and a sizable percentage boost.
The Murphies were keen to do well for the sake of their newlywed key forward and 100-gamer Alex Hentschke but there was to be no fairy-tale ending for him.
The home team had great trouble in penetrating the Hatherleigh defence,
Until three-quarter time, the Eagles had conceded just three goals.
The only sour factor from the weekend for the victors is that Kalangadoo has moved to the top of the table due to superior percentage.
It was the first time that Eagle recruit Bradley Mitchell lined up against his home club and his younger brother Patrick.
After a hat-trick of losses and slumping to sixth on the premiership table, Glencoe would welcome the bye in round seven.
Hatherleigh hosts Kongorong in this battle of the birds.
Robe V Port MacDonnell
Port MacDonnell finally got to play at the Bay as its unsuitable playing surface had finally recovered albeit with a few sandy patches.
The Demons hosted fellow seaside club Robe in a match which will shape their 2022 season.
As the visitors won by a mere four points, it is fair to say that both teams are fairly matched and remain in contention for premiership honours.
A strong breeze favoured the clubrooms end throughout the contest but both teams were able to find a way to score into it.
The home side had the first use of it but both teams had four goals apiece by quarter time.
The Demons had registered four more scoring shots in the opening stanza but all were minor scores.
Robe eked out a narrow eight-point advantage by the long break and then Port MacDonnell responded well to be seven points clear at the final change.
It was all set for a grandstand finish and the 42 players did not let the large crowd down as they turned on 30 minutes of desperate and quality football.
The Roosters piled on three goals to seize the initiative and the lead but the Demons did not relent.
The home side had the lion’s share of the play in the final 10 minutes but could not split the big white uprights.
Robe coach Tom Wachtel was clearly best-on-ground as he spent the entire two hours doing great work in the ruck.
Robe hosts Kalangadoo on Saturday while Port MacDonnell plays at Tantanoola where the host club is aiming for a hat-trick of wins.
