Port MacDonnell v Robe

Port MacDonnell made the 310km round trip to Guichen Bay on Saturday and knocked the Robe Roosters from the top of the perch with a decisive 47-point win.

As it was top hosting second, it was certainly the match-of-the-day.

The competition had taken a break the previous weekend on account of the annual SA Country Football Championships in the Barossa Valley.

Coming into the match, the Roosters had received a boost with Nathan Brown reappointed for a second consecutive season as playing coach.

He has coped with injuries to himself and several key players as the seasiders are in contention to lift the Wilf Sprengel premiership shield on September 23.

However, Saturday was the second consecutive loss for the red-and-whites as the Demons won all four quarters.

In the opening term, the home side kicked into a breeze which was worth four goals to the northern (St Peter’s Church) end of Robe Oval.

Rooster utility player Kaden Woodward posted the first major score within the opening minute of play, but that was the only time his side had the lead.

Port MacDonnell soon equalised and then went ahead with the wind advantage and had clocked up a lead of 27 points by the first change.

Former assistant coach Kevin Thomson showed no ill effects of a lengthy holiday and he had two goals by quarter time.

Honours were shared in the second terms and tempers began to fray.

This testiness among many players continued until game’s end and both teams would be well advised to address some self-discipline matters before the start of the major rounds.

The visitors took a handy lead into the long break and already looked to have a stranglehold on the outcome of the match.

With the wind easing in the third term, Robe could not get value from their forwards and were still 37 points in arrears at the last change.

Port MacDonnell were in the box seat with 30 minutes of play remaining and were obviously not content with the premiership points.

Although kicking into a slighter breeze, Port MacDonnell piled on four goals while conceding only two to take top spot.

The all-important round 13 marks the start of the final trimester of the minor round with Robe visiting Hatherleigh and Port MacDonnell hosting Mount Burr.

Kalangadoo v Mount Burr

Not only did Kalangadoo avenge their one-point loss at home to Mount Burr on April 22, the reigning premiers banked invaluable percentage in its visit to Mick and Jean Walker Oval.

After taking a 26-point lead into quarter time, the Magpies outscored the Mozzies in the remaining three as well.

The premiership points and the 57-point margin has made Kalangadoo’s occupancy of third place far more secure.

On the other hand, Mount Burr sits just outside the top four and can ill-afford further lapses.

Honorary groundsman Peter Henderson had the oval in tip-top condition despite record June rainfall being recorded across the region.

As a total of 33 goals were scored in A Grade, it can be said the ground condition passed with flying colours.

The Mozzies were keen to do well for the sake of five-time premiership player Peter Guyett (pictured being carried off by Jack Gregory and Nathan Muhovics) who was playing his 300th game in a green-and-gold jumper.

Kalangadoo hosts Nangwarry on Saturday while Mount Burr is on the road to the Bay to face Port MacDonnell.

Tantanoola v Nangwarry

Tantanoola keep their slim hopes of a finals berth alive with a 31-point victory over Nangwarry.

The Saints were sluggish having not played a game since June 24.

After a slow start, Nangwarry got back into the contest but spent most of the match about four goals in arrears.

This location has cast a spell over the Tigers a year ago as the Saints ended a losing streak stretching back to 2015.

The premiership table shows the sixth-placed Tigers are within a whisker of taking fifth-place away from Mount Burr.

Tantanoola has the bye in round 13 while Nangwarry heads to Kalangadoo.

Hatherleigh v Kongorong

Hatherleigh easily won the ‘battle of the birds’ by 106 points at Kongorong.

Whereas the outcome of the three other games was difficult to predict, the pundits were nigh-unanimous in choosing the Eagles to win.

The overall strength, skill and experience of the visitors was soon evident and the outcome was known before half-time.

The Hawks did not register a goal until the final quarter when vice-captain Matt Cordy and Matthew Roberts both recorded majors.

It was not the result sought by the reunion of past Kongorong Reserves players including Troy Bell MP who were remembering premiership success in three consecutive seasons from 2002-2004.

Hatherleigh hosts Robe on Saturday while Kongorong plays at Glencoe.

The Murphies will be marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of their licensed clubrooms while the Eagles will be celebrating 10 years since their last A Grade flag.