Furthermore, it was an opportunity to enjoy time with teammates and opponents in the friendly atmosphere that is the hallmark of this competition.

Despite this, there were several significant outcomes in the context of the season and the quest for the premiership.

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Open

The game that was seen as the match of the round was between the undefeated Yanac Tigers and the improving Nhill Rangers, and it lived up to all expectations. Although the Tigers finished the game with their undefeated record intact, they had to endure some fierce pressure from the Rangers.

It was only late in an otherwise very even first half that they registered their first goal, and while they did score twice more after the break, they were pushed by a determined Rangers team who got one goal before the final whistle.

Despite their current position outside the top four, the Kaniva Cobras remain a serious threat to any team in the competition, and on Saturday they matched the second-placed Warrack Hoops for the full seventy minutes of their game.

These teams have contrasting playing styles, with the Cobras plan based around long solid hitting, and the Hoops rely on shorter passing and possession, but they cancelled each other on this occasion and the game finished as a scoreless draw.

After several narrow defeats, the Horsham Hurricanes finally broke through for their first win, which came at the expense of the Dimboola Burras and was a satisfying response to their big loss to this opponent back in round four.

The Hurricanes took full advantage when the Burras were unable to put their best team on the field, and they had five individual goal scorers while their defenders kept the Burras scoreless.

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Women

Yanac Women showed the depth of their playing squad with seven individual goal scorers in their match against the Nhill Thunderbirds. However, the scoreline did not convey the pressure that the Nhill team applied to the reigning premiers.

The Horsham Jets firmed their grip on fourth place on the Women's ladder with a solid win over the Dimboola Roos, which now places them a game and a half ahead of this opponent.

Under 16

The Kaniva Raiders moved into the top four for the first time this season after they registered their first win, at the expense of the Warrack Revengers.

Charlie White and Xavier Stimson scored three goals each, and Leah Eilola was the sole scorer for the Revengers.

Four goals to Rourkey Croot, two to Asher Zanker and one to Archie Zanker made up the seven goals that the Yanac Warriors scored to defeat the Nhill Leopards, who only found the goals once, off the stick of Issac Deckert.

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