Tigers, Lions win to set up top-of-the-table blockbuster next Sunday and Sharks jump back into top four

Railways marched to a ninth straight victory after thumping North Albany by 82 points in the Warrick Proudlove Tribute Match today, to end round 11 of the Great Southern Football League still on top of the ladder. The Tigers set up the victory in the first half kicking 10 goals to finish comfortable 15.19 (109) to 4.3 (27) victors at Collingwood Park. Jayden Scott and Logan Stubber were influential through the midfield kicking four goals each while Matt Palfrey had a hand in almost everything up forward and added three. Ryan Davies was awarded the game ball in Think Mental Health Round by the umpires for his strong four quarters between both arcs. The Tigers lead by 53 points at the main break and Scott kicked his fourth goal to start the third term before Jeff Fitzpatrick answered immediately for the Kangas. Stubber kicked his fourth soon after and when Palfrey added a third the visitors advantage grew to beyond 10 goals. The Kangas kicked the first of the last term through Lachy Hansen but the Tigers kicked the last two through Toby Hall and one on the final siren to Matt Van Schayk to seal the big victory. Three goals into the wind to start the match and then seven goals with it in the second was the catalyst for their 10th win of the season. It was a bruising encounter for the Kangas losing Caleb and Dylan House while Jacob Crowe took no further part in the second half. The home side were best served by key defender Graham Ross, youngster Heath Ravenhill, Nathan Crudeli and Jeff Fitzpatrick (two goals) who led up well all day. Albany strengthened their hopes of playing in the finals for the first time, kicking the last five goals of their entertaining contest with Denmark-Walpole at Centennial Stadium yesterday. The Sharks were challenged twice by a determined Magpies outfit, who kicked four goals in the first term to lead by 14 points at quarter time. Scores were level at half time before three goals from key forward Matt Galantino swung the match in favour of the home side in the third term. However the Magpies rallied to drag themselves back into the game as they booted the first three majors of the final term and trailed by a single point. The Sharks responded like a top four team however as the class of Morgan Davies, Cameron Jones and Brett Peake helped arrest the momentum and their side booted the final five goals of the game to run out 35-point winners. Jake Louthean and Peake kicked their second majors of the game, impressive youngster Mitchell Collier booted two goals and Max Baker also hit the scoreboard as the Sharks bounded clear, drawing level with the Magpies on 16 points as a result of their fourth win of the season. The win however was soured by a heavy collision between Davies and Magpie Mick Sullivan late in the final term as a concussed Davies was helped from the ground while Sullivan was also taken from the field. Matt Galantino, in his third game of the season, booted five majors in a terrific display and his three goals in the third term were crucial in the 14.17 (101) to 10.6 (66) result. Jones won the match ball presented by the umpires for his strong midfield game, winning a host of clearances and possessions while Robbie Lee and Davies were also prolific and Peake bobbed up in vital moments. The Magpies were best served by defenders Ash Smith and Kadan King-Davies, veteran Ryan Gaerth won plenty of the ball and Tyrone Kennedy provided his side with a good target in attack and finished with three goals. Coen Marwick was forced to play deep in attack after getting a heavy cork in the opening half and his older brother Zane Marwick played his best game since joining the Magpies. Meanwhile a dominant 13-goal second half helped Royals to a come-from-behind victory over Mt Barker by 49 points at Sounness Park yesterday. It was the Lions 10th win of the season and sets up a crunch top-of-table clash with the Tigers this Sunday. The Bulls were very impressive in the first term and jumped the Lions to lead by 25 points at half time but the Lions booted 13 goals to one in the second half to run out comfortable 17.9 (111) to 9.8 (62) winners. The Lions kicked the opening four goals of the third stanza with Corey Ward’s brilliant set shot from the boundary handing them the lead for the first time in the game at the 20 minute mark of the third term. It was all the reigning premiers from that point on as they kicked three goals, including a second in the term to Cooper Childs, to take a 21-point advantage into the last change. Jordan Heil kicked the first goal of the last term on the run to push the margin to 27 and the Bulls were unable to match the visitors from there. Cameron Allison was awarded the game ball for his brilliant display through the middle in the win. Dave Parker (two goals) and Michael McGlade were influential through the middle while Hamish McMorran and Brayden Parker, who both booted two majors, were also strong contributors. The Bulls kicked five unanswered goals in the first term, two from key forward Brodie Duffield, as they held a significant 31-point buffer at the first change. The Lions kicked four goals in the second term but the Bulls added three themselves to still have control of the game at half time. Duffield finished with four goals for the Bulls and was influential while Lee Pavlovich and Tristan Ballard were solid in defence.