Royals move to third after holding off gallant North Albany in a see-sawing final quarter

Royals held their nerve to survive a late charge from a defiant North Albany, recording a 16-point win at Collingwood Park on Sunday to move to third on the Great Southern Football League ladder with one round left to play.

The Lions led at every change but in a frenetic final term the Kangas hit the front with less than 10 minutes to play.

However three consecutive goals late in the game helped the Lions seal victory, 14.13 (97) to 12.9 (81).

Lions coach Andrew Ruck said it was pleasing to see his team execute under pressure in the dying stages of the game.

“It was good that the boys could flick the switch in the last five minutes of the game, which gives us a bit of positivity,” he said.

“It’s like every team, we’re just trying to play our style but I think it was a good hit-out for our boys.

“There were quite a few blokes that played well that I didn’t expect had it in them, so it’s going to make selection interesting for finals.

‘Anyone on their day at the moment can win it and in the finals I reckon it could be a lucky dip each week, which is great for the league.”

The visitors held an 11-point lead at the final change but they found themselves on the back foot early as goals to Taj Williams and Graham Ross helped the Kangas snatch a one-point lead, hitting the front for the first time.

Lions midfielder Zak Mola had an opportunity to put the visitors up but his kick struck the post and Rory Luscombe narrowly missed a snap moments after.

Williams found himself in space at the other end, bouncing through his fourth goal of the game from 45m out to put the visitors up by five.

Lions key forward Nic Ashford missed a shot on goal soon after but a couple of minutes later Jordan Hulm won an important possession and hit the chest of a leading Ryan Lazar.

Lazar made no mistake under pressure, slotting a goal from 35m out to put his side up by two points.

A clutch set shot from Ryan Kinnear (four goals) gave the visitors breathing space and then close range major from Coel Hunter handed the Lions a hard-fought win.

The Lions had struck early through Ashford and inclusion Ethan Panizza but prolific Kangas goal kicker Ross kept finding answers, kicking two majors at the other end.

Ashford kicked truly once more and Chandler Askevold-McDonald added another to help the visitors creep out to a 10-point lead at the first change.

In a see-sawing second term both sides grappled for the ascendancy with Lions’ Kinnear adding two early goals.

Towering Kangas forward Lucas Ravenhill hit back and a Lions turnover allowed an opportunistic Williams to run into an open goal square to boot his first for the afternoon but the Lions held a 15-point advantage at the long break.

Two more majors to Ravenhill and a goal to Angus McKercher dragged the margin back to six points but Ashford kicked a timely goal late in the quarter to open up an 11-point lead at the last change and they had to withstand plenty of pressure in the final stanza.

Lions star David Parker lifted considerably in the last half to get his side across the line and he was well supported by Brayden Parker in the opening half, while big man Stephen Beal had great impact in the ruck and around the ground.

Mola was also important over the four quarters while Ashford was a big presence in attack and booted five majors.

Jyrin Woods was outstanding for the Kangas and he was well-supported by Nathan Crudeli, Sam Moir and youngster Kobi Keen.

Williams (four goals) was the major goal kicker for the home side while Ross (three goals) and Ravenhill (three goals) provided great targets up front.

Kangas coach Brad Bootma said there were plenty of positives for his ever-improving squad.

“It’s disappointing to lose when you’re there to win every game but we’re on a journey where we want to try and get better and better,” Bootsma said.

“The next process is to learn how to win. I reckon there were chances where we could have done a bit better.

“I guess their (Lions) experience just came through in the end but most of our young kids got some from today.

“We probably saw some of the game style that we’re actually trying to strive for today but we’ve still got a long way to go.

“There’s one more game, so hopefully it’s not a blowout and we can take some of that momentum going into pre-season.”