The Pambula Panthers have held off the Tathra Sea Eagles in a close contest on Saturday.
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The Eagles were on the road to Pambula and out for vengeance, but succumbed in a close battle with the hosts 12-16-88 to 12-4-76.
From the outset, play was frenetic as possession swayed back and forth through the middle with both sides trading shots on the posts.
Accuracy was hindering the Panthers as they took a number of extra shots on the posts in the opening quarter than the Sea Eagles – who made most of their efforts stick.
The Panthers piled on 11 scoring kicks to Tathra’s four, but led by just two points as eight of their shots faded wide or were tapped through for single pointers.
The theme continued into the second quarter where the Sea Eagles had less chances on the goal square, but made kicks count with three goals to one in the period.
With another four behinds causing headaches for the hosts, the Eagles had jumped to a half-time lead 43-36.
Unfortunately for the Sea Eagles, the Panthers fired back in the third quarter, dominating play six goals to two and a pair of behinds, putting them up by almost 20 points.
Kickers for the Sea Eagles were varied with good displays out of the forwards and the midfield.
Mitch May, Troy O’Loghlin and Dean Gartside each bagged three, while Blake Grant kicked a pair and Louis Coulton claimed a solitary goal.
The Panthers provided a wide array of goal kickers, but the standouts were Jordan Pilgrim with four and a pair to Jake Taylor.
The Sea Eagles fought valiantly in the final quarter and were able to close the gap by a goal, but finished 12 points off the pace.
Earlier, the Sea Eaglettes had flipped the result, scoring a good win over the Panthers 7-9-51 to 5-2-32.
Echoing the close nature of the seniors, the women’s both went to the first break on 14 points, each kicking two goals and a pair of behinds.
The second quarter favoured the hosts as they edged the Eaglettes to a small lead, but momentum swayed back to Tathra in the third with scores locked up again at 26-26 at the break.
The Eaglettes rallied in the final quarter and were able to outscore their hosts four goals to one in the final period of play to swing the result.
The win puts the Sea Eaglettes clear into second place on the competition ladder, just trailing the undefeated Eden Whalers.
Meanwhile the senior team holds third, but the Panthers are now at the top of the table, matching the Narooma Lions on points.