Lions brush aside Kangas in NAIDOC Round

Royals all but secured a top two finish with an emphatic 54-point victory over reigning premiers North Albany in a heated end to NAIDOC Round this afternoon at Centennial Stadium.

The two sides had to be separated at quarter time after an incident that left Kangas’ Ian Robson bleeding from the face, with the margin just six points at the time.

A spectator came onto the field of play immediately after the incident and had to be removed from the ground prior to second quarter starting.

The Lions kicked the first three goals of the second term to gain the ascendancy and they took a 17-point buffer into the long break on the back of some brilliance from forward Jaiden Alison, who kicked four for the quarter.

The game was effectively killed off in the third term by the home side as they kicked six unanswered goals to stretch the margin beyond 50 points with Coel Hunter booting two and Alison adding a fifth.

The Kangas won the final term but they were no match for the table topping Lions, who cruised to a 15.17 (107) to 7.11 (53) win.

Steven Edwards produced a classy display across half back, taking lots of intercept marks and collecting 21 damaging disposals while Tyrese Pickett-Miller, Michael McGlade and veteran Ryan Kinnear were also lively.

The Lions beat their opponent for the second time this season, moving four games clear of the third-placed Kangas as a result with five games to play.

The Kangas were best served by ball winners Nathan Crudeli and Alex Pearce while Jacob Hobbs tried hard throughout.

Yesterday Mt Barker moved even closer to clinching a finals spot with a 49-point triumph over Albany at Sounness Park.

The Bulls are now three games clear of the fifth-placed Denmark-Walpole after an eight goal to two second half guided them to victory, 15.15 (105) to 7.4 (46).

Livewire forward Dionne Woods was superb, kicking 10 goals in a match-winning performance but the win came at a cost as Bulls captain Peter Taylor re-injured his quad in the first term.

Woods kicked four in the first quarter but the Sharks were in the contest up until half time as they trailed by only 17 points.

John Lee (three goals) and Leigh Conway, in arguably his best game in Bulls colours, were also important in the result.

Robbie Lee and Jack Banks both kicked two goals to lead the way for Sharks and Hamish Fuller battled hard in the loss.

At Tigerland, Railways produced a resolute defensive performance as they limited the Magpies to one goal in wet and muddy conditions.

The Tigers moved three games clear in second spot after the 63-point win, which came after they kicked the first 11 goals of the contest.

A four goal to nil first quarter had the home side in control and by three quarter time they led by 56 points.

Kalin Lane kicked the only goal for the Magpies, the last major of the game, as his side’s finals hopes slipped further away.

The Tigers were well served by Liam Park (two goals), midfield duo Joel Want and Logan Stubber and Kane Shephard (three).

Reliable trio Ryan Gaerth, Alec Haskins and Tyler Stone were among the Magpies best.