Albany Sharks assert themselves as top four prospect with third win, Railways snatch top spot from Royals

Albany Sharks have their sights set on a top four finish after their third win of the the Great Southern Football League season, downing North Albany by 37 points at Centennial Stadium today. The Sharks moved two games clear in fourth place on the ladder after defeating the Kangas for a second time this season. The round seven victory came on the back of a nine-goal first half before the Sharks held the Kangas at bay in the second half. With scores even midway through the opening term, former AFL player Brett Peake swung the match in favour of the Sharks. Peake kicked three goals in a succession, including a brilliant snap from close range and tough set shot on the boundary, as he gave the home side a three-goal buffer. The Kangas trailed by 14 points at quarter time and Sharks quickly extended that through Ben Watson before goals from the returning Matt Galantino and young forward Connor McCandless made it a 36-point half time deficit. As the heavens opened after the main break, the Kangas pinched one back through star Jack McPhee but the home side added three themselves, included a third to McCandless, to make the visitors task almost impossible in the conditions as they went into the final stanza 48 points down. The Kangas kicked the only two goals of the final quarter through Graham Ross and Rhori Williams-Jolley but they were never in the hunt after quarter time as they fell short, 7.4 (46) to 12.11 (83). Jake Louthean was awarded the game ball in the win after a great display through the middle of the ground. Flynn Breuker and Cam Jones were influential in the midfield while the work of youngster Mitch Collier was also impressive. McCandless and Peake finished with three goals each while Galantino slotted two in a pleasing return to Sharks colours. The Kangas were best served by tough midfielder Jacob Crowe and Mitch Lenegan but it was a tough afternoon as they slipped to a sixth loss of the season. A dominant six goal second half from Railways propelled them to an impressive victory over reigning premiers Royals at Tigerland yesterday. The Lions 32-game winning streak came to a end and they coughed up top spot as a result of the eight-point loss at the hands of their cross-town rivals. After trailing by 29 points at half time the home side piled on six unanswered goals in the second half to emerge thrilling winners. A clever Fraser Grant snap and then a set shot from Ryan Davies on the boundary gave the Tigers two in a row. Zak Hortin was awarded a 50m penalty and slotted it from the goal square to reduce the margin to under two goals by three quarter time. Tigers midfielder Logan Stubber kicked the first goal of the final term to make it three points and then Hortin kicked his third goal of the game to hand the home side the lead for the first time since the first term with more than 10 minutes to play. The Lions came hard in the dying stages and kicked three behinds in a row but in the last minute Joel Want kicked the winner from congestion as the Tigers hung on, 7.8 (50) to 5.12 (42). Kane Shephard was awarded the game ball for the Tigers after being pivotal through the midfield. Bodhi Stubber was influential in the win along with Ryan Davies and Logan Stubber. The Lions dominated the second term piling on four unanswered goals to push their one-point quarter time advantage into a 29-point buffer at the main break. Michael McGlade was outstanding in the middle again while youngster Ben Altus was impressive across half back and Dave Parker (two goals) was vital in the first half. Denmark-Walpole escaped with four vital premiership points despite kicking nine behinds in the final term against Mt Barker at Sounness Park yesterday. Neither side kicked a goal in a fourth quarter that was difficult to watch, but it was the visitors that took control after half time to strengthen their finals chances. The Magpies kicked the last two goals of the third term to hit the front and then hung on in a dour final term, prevailing by seven points at the finish. The match was stopped for almost 15 minutes after a horror collision in the second quarter between Bulls’ Mitch Jackson and Magpies’ Bailey Bennett. Jackson flew for a mark in a contest on the wing and was eventually stretched from the ground with a broken leg. The game resumed for only a few minutes before the siren sounded as the quarter ticked over 30 minutes according to GSFL rules and the Bulls held a six-point advantage. Hard-working midfielder Scott Price pushed the margin to 12 points early in the third but the Magpies kept coming. Bennett kicked truely from a 50m penalty before Josh Price answered immediately for the home side. However the next two plays were decisive in the result as midfield star Jayden Woods slotted a brilliant goal on the run to pull the margin to four points. Woods, Shayne Zanetti and Tyler Stone, arguably the Magpies most important trio, were all involved to help Ash McGrath kick his first major and their side hit the front on the verge of three quarter time. The Magpies were woeful in front of goal in the last term as Zanetti kicked four behinds and McGrath added three but they clung on 7.21 (63) to 8.8 (56). The big concern for the winners was a serious ankle injury to Stone in the final term, having to be carried off the ground. Woods recieved the match ball in Talk To A Mate Round for his stellar display while Stone was highly influential and defenders David Scriven and Ash Smith were also outstanding. In his first game of the season Zanetti kicked two goals in the first and got better as the game went on and the Magpies went into the game without a number of first choice players. An afternoon that started on such a good note ended sourly for the home side. They kicked five goals in an electric first term but the serious injury to Jackson was compounded by the loss of Sam Lehmann (back) and Steven Scott (hamstring). Scott recieved Bulls life membership after playing his 175th league game and kicked the opening goal of the contest. The Bulls were best served by Sebastian Ballard, Scott Price (two goals), Bryce Blaszkow and Jack Horrocks who blanketed McGrath for much of the game.