KALANGADOO 9.10 DEF. HATHERLEIGH 5.8
Kalangadoo prevailed in an entertaining battle-of-defences before a huge sponsors day crowd at Hatherleigh.
The Eagles had a three-goal lead by the mid-point of the opening term but added a mere two more majors in the following two hours of footy.
The Magpies also found it hard to score but ran the game out to win by 26 points.
Players from both teams worked hard to win possession but the intense pressure meant the disposal of the ball was often below par.
In a rarity for Hatherleigh, brothers Max, Jed and Sam Telfer played together for the first time.
Kalangadoo had a father-son combination in Tom and Josh Searle.
ROBE 20.17 DEF. GLENCOE 4.4
Ladder leader Robe showed no mercy to an undermanned Glencoe and won easily at home by 109 points.
The undefeated status of the seasiders seldom looked in doubt and they had all but secured the premiership points by quarter time.
Played on arguably the best surface in the competition, the Rooster forwards were to the fore.
None were better than Zac Deane who finished the contest with five goals.
The Murphies made many changes to their round five line-up and the unsettled side failed to match their hosts in three of the four terms.
They were goalless in the first term and did not score after the long break.
Robe coach Jack Kelly has the happy knack of securing talented players and promoting juniors as there are many gaps to fill.
Less than a third of Robe’s last premiership team from 2018 are still at the club and so Kelly has success- fully overseen a re-generation.
There are also challenges ahead for new Glencoe coach Frazer Scanlon with inconsistency blighting the Murphies.
The last time Scanlon had played at Robe was the 2015 grand final when he came away with the Phil Muhovics memorial medal as the premiership coach of Mount Burr.
PORT MACDONNELL 38.18 DEF. NANGWARRY 4.6
It is seldom easy to kick goals on a grey and blustery day and the Nangwarry backmen certainly made their Port MacDonnell opponents earn their possessions.
Nevertheless, the superior skills and fitness of the visitors proved decisive on the Nangwarry Oval and they kicked away to a 216-point win.
Best of the winning forwards was Ned Wilke who booted a game- high tally of six goals.
With a log-jam occurring at the top end of the premiership table, the Demon defenders also played their part in maximising the percentage boost for their team.
One of the Port MacDonnell players who had a good knowledge of the venue was new coach Simon Merrett.
He had previously spent three seasons at Nangwarry as a coach and player.
TANTANOOLA 10.5 DEF. MOUNT BURR 6.8
There was a fairy-tale ending for ex-Tantanoola skipper Hayden Brown when his side hosted cross-town rivals Mount Burr and achieved the upset of the season.
Fresh from the bye and with a stronger list on paper including nine premiership players, the Mozzies were supposed to put a dampener on the 200th A Grade appearance of Brown.
Instead, the Tigers led at every change and finished well to achieve an 18-point win.
Brown has given his all to the red-and-white jumper since his junior days and also served as an underage coach.
He is the last player from the most recent Tantanoola A Grade premiership side in 2006 still play- ing as senior level.
Home team supporters were able to cheer the first game of new coach Jak Ryan who has recovered from a pre-season injury.
The match-winner for Tantanoola was on-baller Jack Dawe who also booted a game-high three goals.
There was little to suggest that Mount Burr could return to major round action in 2021 with just three named in the best players.
