The Keith Crows have con- tinued their high-flying  start to the 2021 season with both football and netball sides untroubled so far in the respective A Grade competitions. 

In the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League, the Crows navigated their way past a brief scare to topple Naracoorte by a commanding margin of 61 points. 

As each side went goal for goal in the opening stanza and Rory Taggert gave the Demons a fast start, fans anticipated a close battle as only one straight kick was the difference. 

However, it did not take long for Keith to raise the tempo and outrun the home side as the game went on. 

Naracoorte had no answer for the visitors’ gameplay and could only manage one goal for the entire second half. 

Yet again Ben Simounds ran riot inside 50 and kicked truly  seven times to share the goalkick- ing honours with Padthaway’s  Tobin Cox. 

With the likes of William Mcmurray and George Thring taking control in the engine room, the Crows flew clear in the second and third terms on their way to victory. 

The only other side yet to lose a game is Kingston, which remains the most celebrated story in the competition. 

Having only recorded eight wins from their previous 32 games and being nowhere near finals contention, the Saints have marched to the top of the ladder  by not missing a beat in the open- ing four rounds. 

After recording three unex- pected wins, the confident side  showed no signs of feeling pressure from the unfamiliar favourtie’s tag by knocking off Kybybolite. 

But it was not without a few nail-biting moments as the winless Tigers led by Callum Masters scraped hard to earn a two-point lead after the first term. 

Kingston took control of pos- session following the break by  recording nine more scoring  shots in the second quarter. 

Suddenly Kyby could not slow the marching Saints, who banged home 10 majors in the second half to seal a 51-point triumph. 

Kingston was blessed with four of its 10 goal kickers troubling  the scorers on multiple occa- sions. 

In mainly a one-sided round, the closest contest was between Padthaway and Penola. 

Scoring was heavily influenced by conditions as all the momentum fluctuated quarter by quarter. 

The Lions enjoyed a roaring start, but the Eagles flew back into proceedings in the second term by cutting the deficit down to just two points. 

The trend continued in the third stanza when Padthaway opened a five-goal advantage. 

The home side’s momentum was boosted by a nine-goal haul from the unstoppable Cox which proved too much for Penola. 

The Lions locked in third place on the ladder with the 92-56 win. 

Around the grounds Bordertown overjoyed its home fans by recording its first win of the season. 

Strong efforts from Curtis  Mccarthy and Billy Hayes were enough to upstage Lucindale by 28 points. 

Reigning premier Mundulla showed no mercy to Border Districts and smashed the combined club 130 points with seven goals kicked from James Hinge’s boot. 

This weekend’s match of the round is at Keith with Padthaway hoping to take the fight to the undefeated side. 

McCorquindale Park welcomes the daring of the KNTFL Kingston where Penola hopes to bounce back from a hat-trick of defeats. 

Kyby and Border Districts might be a close contest, as could Mundulla and Lucindale with the pair locked on four premiership points each, while Bordertown hopes to keep its form going against Naracoorte. 

The Crows’ nest is also perched at the top of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Netball Association ladder. 

Keith is the only team not to take a misplaced step in 2021 so far, but endured its toughest task in Saturday’s round 4. 

Naracoorte proved a worthy opponent and matched the Crows  goal for goal across the first two quarters. 

But after entering half time with the scoreboard locked at 16 goals each, the Demons relented slightly, which was the sniff Keith needed in the third term. 

Having edged out a six-goal lead before the final break, Naracoorte could not close the gap and lost 38-29. 

An even closer contest took place at Frances between Border Districts and Mundulla. 

Despite recording just one win from the first three rounds, Mundulla pushed the undefeated Border Districts to the final whistle. 

The visitors held a four-goal lead at the main break, but a strong third term from Border Districts paved the way for the 42-40 win. 

Penola maintained its strong form by dominating its away game against Padthaway with April Possingham shooting 58 of the Eagles’ 77 goals. 

Lucindale also enjoyed a similarly easy win over Bordertown. 

The Eagles enjoy a bye in round 5, while Mundulla and Lucindale could be the closest game this Saturday.