Gusty conditions took their toll on the weekend's Sapphire Coast AFL "mega draw" at Eden, with the Narooma Lions making the best of it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Plenty of behinds were scored as senior SCAFL games converged on the Eden Football Ground on Saturday.
Narooma claimed bragging rights over home team the Eden Whalers, the Lions kicking 14.10 (94) to 3.6 (24).
Majors were shared among the Lions, with Luke Talty kicking three and assisted with a pair each to Michael Talbott, Callum Jackson and Liam Russell. For Eden, Jack Grey kicked two.
In the day's other first grade match-up, Pambula scraped it in 7.6 (48) to Merimbula's 5.10 (40).
The Panthers and Diggers were locked in a tussle throughout, with no more than a goal difference at each of the breaks.
However, in the fourth quarter, Pambula was able to put on 2.3, with Merimbula only managing three behinds to fall short.
Matthew Molkentin kicked three majors for the Merimbula Diggers.
Pambula Panthers coach Josh Wheeler said it was a tight match, but at the end of the day his team put in an outstanding effort to become the victors.
"It was one of those games, it was a really tight contest all day," he said.
"We battled hard but got the win in the end which is the main thing."
While it was windy, he said the conditions played to his team's advantage.
"We've got smaller players, under six foot, while Merimbula has taller guys," he said.
"The wind put the ball on the ground some more, and when the ball hit the ground our littler guys took over."
While he said the whole team put in a great effort, Tommy Ferguson was "influential" as he kicked a few goals from outside 50metres at the start of the game which put them in front.
The Panthers are level with Merimbula on the season's first grade ladder, but behind on percentage.
"Hopefully we can secure the top second spot and we will get in with a second chance in the final," Wheeler said.
In reserve grade, the Pambula Panthers were off target, but still outshone the Diggers to the tune of 9.20 (74) to 1.2 (8).
Wheeler said the reserve side of the Panthers played "really, really well".
The weekend was also an opportunity to unveil new grandstands at the Eden Football Ground, named for two of the town's legends of the game - Alex Chomatek and Paul "Plugger" Kirby.
In an added nod to former Eden club members, the stands host memorials for former players Geoff Munday, Ryan Chester, Dennis Luobikis, Mick Kirkby and Fred Dawson.
Tathra had the bye on the weekend.