Picola District League throws up eye-popping numbers in round seven

Before getting into those matters, though, we got a stirring contest at Picola Recreation Reserve as Picola United took the fight up to Katunga.

The sharpshooting home side led its more fancied visitors at every change, but only barely lacked the firepower to stay on course for all four quarters as the Swans just got away with their fourth win of the year, 14.7 (91) to 13.4 (82).

Cody Haub was recognised for his gallant five-goal effort as Picola United’s best, while Katunga was led by Daniel O’Loughlin (four) and Samuel Arho (three) in the gritty win.

There was another tussle to the end that caused heartbreak for winless side Rennie (0-6), who trailed Berrigan (3-2) by 19 points at the first break.

Rallying back and even assuming the lead at three-quarter-time, Chase Strawhorn’s six goals weren’t enough to secure a maiden set of points as the Saints survived, 14.6 (90) to 12.15 (87).

There was movement through the middle portion of the table as well, with Mathoura (3-2) assuming a positive win-loss record while consigning Deniliquin Rovers (3-3) to neutrality in a 28-point win.

Katamatite (5-1) and Tungamah (3-3) engaged in a ferocious — if often wayward — battle with upper echelon ramifications.

Wally Thomson’s four goals inspired a comeback that only fell short by other blown chances as the Tigers prevailed 7.9 (51) to 5.13 (43).

Jerilderie (3-3) was another to move up in a bunched middle order of the league table after comfortably dispatching Tocumwal (1-5) in a seven-goal win.

Then came the beltings, both courtesy of leading sides.

Strathmerton (6-0) struck hard and fast in annihilating Blighty (1-5), with 20 goals on the board by half time before taking the foot off in the final hour of a 30.15 (195) to 1.2 (8) mauling.

Tim Looby sought to back up his leading goalkicker award from last year with a bag of 10, taking him to a league-best 38 for 2024 — and he needed all of them after what Waaia (6-0) did.

The two-time reigning premiers put up numbers sure to make headlines in social media posts around the state, blitzing bottom side Yarroweyah (0-6) to the tune of 54 scoring shots in the first half alone.

With an astonishing 290 unanswered points to their name at the final change, the Bombers ‘only’ contributed eight straight majors in the final term to saunter home with a mammoth 52.26 (338) to 0.0 (0) triumph.

Just casually, that second half produced a dead-eye 24.0 from the home side.

No fewer than 15 goals from Charlie Burrows headlined the astonishing day out, almost doubling his season tally in a day as he moves to 32.

Over in the A-grade netball, the story was largely similar between the Bombers and Hoppers with the red and black brigade surging to a straightforward 68-14 win.

All three sides who entered round seven with perfect records maintained them to go 6-0 as Strathmerton powered past Blighty 62-38, Deniliquin Rovers breezed over Mathoura 58-16 and Katamatite accounted for Tungamah 53-28.

Katunga kept the pace one win behind the leading trio in brushing aside Picola United 56-22, while Tocumwal notched its third win at the expense of Jerilderie and Rennie pipped Berrigan by three - the same margin as the football, but the opposite result.