Round 6 across the Great Southern, River Murray and Hills Football League (Div 1) proved to be highly entertaining, with close matches the theme of Saturday’s play.
RIVER MURRAY
The River Murray Football League action proved to be the most tightly contested of all, with three of the four matches being decided by 10 points or less.
Defending champions Imperial pulled off a stunning comeback against the Coorong Cats, overcoming a 35-point halftime deficit to win 10.7 67 to 8.10 58 in Meningie.
Rambler held off a late charge to upset Mannum by 4 points (10.10 70 to 10.6 66), placing the Roosters in the top five , while Southern Mallee was also forced to come from behind to beat Mypolonga 6.14 50 to 6.7 43.
GREAT SOUTHERN
Langhorne Creek have re-entered the Great Southern top five, after a stirring 8-point win over the in-form Mount Compass.
Mitch Cleggett and Tom Pinyon kicked three apiece in a see-sawing, low-scoring affair (9.8 62 to 7.12 54) with the Bulldogs now out of the top two.
The new top two in McLaren Districts and Myponga-Sellicks had to survive strong challenges for their wins; the Eagles beat Victor Harbor by 13 (8.9 57 to 6.8 44), and the Mudlarks held on against Encounter Bay (6.7 43 to 6.4 40).
In the round’s other matches, Strathalbyn cruised past Goolwa Port Elliot (21.17 143 to 6.8 44), and Willunga accounted for Yankalilla (14.10 94 to 8.3 51).
HILLS DIVISION ONE
Onkaparinga Valley’s impressive start to the season has been halted, after Nairne Bremer cruised to a 52-point win (15.9 99 to 6.11 47) against them in Balhannah.
The league’s leading goal kicker in Darcy Hourigan stayed hot, kicking five as the Rams reclaimed their place in the top two.
Mount Lofty also announced their finals credentials on Saturday, overcoming poor goalkicking to beat Uraidla Districts by 6 points in a low-scoring arm wrestle (6.16 52 to 6.10 46).
In other matches, defending champions Lobethal tallied a much-needed 50-point win over Blackwood (19.8 122 to 11.6 72), Mount Barker easily beat Echunga (16.11 107 to 6.4 40) and Hahndorf kept Ironbank-Bridgewater-Cherry Gardens winless with a 43-point victory (13.18 96 to 8.5 53).
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