McKercher the hero as Kangas snatch a thriller in the wet, Royals stay unbeaten after holding off persistent Pies

North Albany snatched a thrilling seven-point win as Angus McKercher bobbed up to be the hero with two final quarter goals, as the Kangas came up big in driving rain against Mt Barker at Collingwood Park today. The round four encounter promised plenty and the Bulls held a significant 12-point advantage heading into the final term in the heavy and slippery conditions. Talon Delacey kicked the first major of the fourth stanza to make reduce the deficit to 10 points before Brodie Duffield gave the Bulls an immediate response. Delacey booted his second to again pull it back to four points before a Duffield soccer off the ground and a rushed behind made it one straight kick. The Kangas kept coming as captain Luke Cameron had a chance to level the scores but his set shot was off target. Enter McKercher. With the game on the line the small forward kicked the ball off the ground from close range to hand the Kangas a one-point lead in the dying stages of the last. McKercher then sealed the victory with a snap around the corner, his third major of the match to spark wild celebrations for the home side. The Kangas prevailed in a epic fourth quarter to register their second win of the season, 8.10 (58) to 7.9 (51). It was hard to go past McKercher’s heroics in the final term while Delacey was huge in the midfield and Addison Dew also racked up lots of possessions. The Bulls were left to rue a missed opportunity after they led by a narrow margin at quarter and half time and then through a 100m penalty given away by Dew, kicked the only goal of the third via the ever-reliable Sam Lehmann. Lehmann was superb in the defeat and key defender Lee Pavlovich was also outstanding, his efforts winning the Belt-Up Round match ball, and they were well supported by Duffield who bagged five goals up front and youngster Jye Williss. Meanwhile a third term blitz from Railways helped them record a commanding 111-point win over a brave Albany outfit in trying conditions at Centennial Stadium in today’s other match. The Sharks put up a great fight in the first half as they booted five goals and trailed by 40 points but the Tigers run broke the game open in the third as they kicked seven goals to nil. Key forwards Coen Jackman and Matt Palfrey combined for five goals in the third as they the Tigers took a healthy 87-point lead into the final term. The Tigers finished comfortable winners, 22.14 (146) to 5.5 (35). Jackman kicked five goals in his best game of league footy while Palfrey (seven goals), Cyrus Upson and Jayden Scott were all strong contributors. The umpires awarded the Belt-Up match ball to Henrick Alforque. The Sharks first half was encouraging and they were well served by Sam Christo in the middle, Alex Fry and Jack Bowden. The returning Matt Galantino and youngster Luke Mowaljarlai Jr both kicked two goals for the home side. A seven-goal final term from reigning premiers Royals ensured they remain undefeated in the 2020 Great Southern Football League season after overrunning Denmark-Walpole at McLean Park yesterday. The top-of-the-table clash certainty lived up to expectations in the first three quarters with the Magpies leading by a sole point heading into the final term. Ryan Kinnear snapped his second goal to start the last term before Declan McNamara was awarded a free kick before the ball was bounced in the centre and converted to gift the Lions a 11-point advantage. The Lions made it three straight goals before the Magpies hit back through Jayden Woods and Ryan Gaerth as the margin was reduced back to two points midway through the fourth. However the visitors responded to boot the next four goals and win a heated clash, 16.13 (109) to 12.9 (81). Jayson Ford (three goals) was lively all day while Ryan Kinnear (three), Hamish McMorran and Michael McGlade were all solid. Lions star Stephen Beal continued his big start to the season, winning the Belt-Up ball after being judged best-on-ground. The Magpies led by 14 points at half time but weren’t able to hang on in the second half despite the best efforts of Woods, Shayne Zanetti, Ashley Smith and Alec Haskins.