The Grasshoppers were shaping as a competition favourite, but suffered two straight 4-1 losses to Tathra and Wolumla in their last two rounds. 

Meanwhile, the Bega Devils also scored a convincing 5-1 win over Mallacoota and Tathra had a bye. 

Merimbula was without the services of star striker Matti Wattman and struggled to contend with the Wolumla defence. 

Danger Merimbula player Sarah Hale was also kept quiet under the watchful vigil of Anna Marlin and Caitlin Johnson. 

The Tigresses were dominant through the midfield and made a number of early attacks on the Merimbula goals. 

A fumble by the keeper saw Ayla Smith get a boot to the loose carry for the first goal. 

Soon after it was Amy Legge going one-on-one with the keeper to put Wolumla two in front. 

Merimbula rallied attacking raids, but each effort was pushed wide by defenders Anna Martin, Jane Woolacott and the indomitable Judith Orman. 

In reply the Tigresses maintained their attacking pressure to see Smith score another two goals. 

One shot by Merimbula that found the net was disallowed by an off-side call, but the Grasshoppers were able to get on the scoreboard in the dying stages to 

finish 4-1. 

The Wolumla Tigers men’s side suffered a 5-1 loss to the Merimbula team. 

Wolumla coach Luke Adams said the youthful Merimbula side was tricky to manage. 

“We didnt handle Merimbula’s youth or skill in the first half to be down 5-0,” Adams said. 

However, he said a solid talk at half time had the team on task and covering the danger players. 

“We worked out what was wrong and won the second half 1-0.” 

Aaron Koellner scored for the Tigers and Adams joked it was “better than the own-goal scored by Lee Kettle”.

The club will welcome the return of three key players in coming weeks as well as under 16s turning old enough to play in the first grade. 

Adams said it should be a stronger second half to the season. 

“We are about to turn the corner at the business end of the year,” he said. 

The long drive south to Mallacoota for the Bega Devils paid off with a strong win in the women’s division. 

The She-Devils won the match 5-1 in a strong showing. 

Club veteran Kim Constable said it was a dominant mid-field showing that saw Bega make offensive bursts to score their goals. 

“It was pretty much through the midfield, Amanda [Stevenson] scored four goals and Seanine [Cooper] scored the other one,” Constable said. 

The Bega squad was missing the services of stalwart defender Kerryn Constable, but put on a strong attacking effort to keep Mallacoota quiet. 

Chloe Harlow was heavily involved in offensive raids, but couldn’t capitalise as a number shots went wide or high of the net. 

The men’s team was awarded a 3-0 walkover after the withdrawal of the Mallacoota side. 

“They forfeited three out of the first four games,” Devils midfielder Chris Dwyer said. 

The current ruling is if you forfeit three times in a year you withdraw from the league. 

Dwyer said he didn’t think the draw could be changed and teams rostered to play Mallacoota would be given a bye round.