A spirited Penola pushed joint ladder-leader Keith to the ragged edge in the 11th round of the 2021 Bendigo Bank Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League season on Saturday.
Despite both teams sitting at opposite ends of the ladder, the Eagles wowed their home crowd at McCorquindale Park and led at the final change before falling eight points short of a miracle.
Thanks to a dashing three-goal performance from Brock Egan, Penola enjoyed a 12-point lead at the main break.
However, the Crows clawed their way back into the contest as the winter weather set in and only two points split the sides with just one quarter to go.
With the game on the line, Penola could not find the match winner or find the big sticks in the second half and allowed a Jack Jones led Keith outfit to steal the game.
The contest was one of four single-digit thrillers on Saturday which had a dramatic impact on the Eagles.
Kybybolite managed to finish on the right side of a two-point scrap with Naracoorte and the result sent Penola to the bottom of the ladder on percentage.
The Demons extracted an early lead thanks to a Rory Taggert six- goal haul, but Kyby drew level by three-quarter time and sealed the deal during the tense final stages.
Tom Taheny was the hero and received strong support from Bradley Castine and Bill Munn.
The Mundulla and Padthaway clash also kept fans on the edge of their seats as the pair went goal for goal across the first half.
The Lions kicked clear by three goals in the third term, but had to survive a Tigers fightback.
Inspired by the home crowd Mundulla created double the amount of scoring shots in the final term, but was forced to lament inaccuracy as Padthaway’s straighter shooters won by a goal.
Jason Dicker kicked five majors and Daniel Obst played well, while Nicholas Mosey led Mundulla’s charge.
But the closest was between Border Districts and Bordertown, where the latter held on by a solitary point.
Across the see-sawing contest, the Roosters gained some breathing space from a strong third term, bit lost a lot of their good work as the home side fought back during an unmissable finish.
In the end Bordertown did enough to hold on with Clint Diment playing a major role, while Grant Cother led Border Districts’ effort.
Kingston still holds the ladder lead despite a shock defeat to Lucindale away from home.
On the netball court Penola hunted for revenge and found it against Keith on Saturday.
Following a 14-goal defeat to the Crows in round 2, the Eagles brought the defensive pressure through Jordyn Adams and Maddy Teakle and an early lead was the result.
Although the slippery conditions ruled out Tess Porter and Sophie Schulz through major falls, Ash Earl stepped up to the plate as Penola carried a narrow lead into the final term after a Keith fightback.
With just two goals the difference it was game on as the heavy rain arrived, but April Possingham shone underneath the ring to push the Eagles to a 53-44 win.
Kyby prevailed in a tight contest with Naracoorte, while Border Districts and Mundulla were too good for Bordertown and Padthaway especially.
The KNTFL and KNTNA competitions take a week off before firing back into action on Saturday, July 17.
