The Tigers began the better of the two sides and had broken away to a 12-point quarter-time lead, but the Bulldogs flipped the game on its head in the second term, booting 5.5 to skip 22 points clear at the half.
It allowed them to grind out the second half, winning both quarters to come away with the points, 13.9 (87) to 6.9 (45).
Tyron Hill had a big day and was named Strathmerton’s best, with Lance Oswald, Matt O’Kane and Matt Shannon also shining, while Connor Hargreaves found three goals to lead the way up forward.
Chris McKay and Brodie McDonald kicked two each for the Tigers, with Dan Parnell, Tom Buzza and Nichol Clurey the standouts.
The win kept the Bulldogs on top of the ladder, while Katamatite is fifth and a game back from fourth, although it does have a game in hand on Rennie.
●Elsewhere, Yarroweyah made it three wins in four games with a 21-point win against Blighty.
The Redeyes had stormed to the lead in a big second quarter, but the Hoppers controlled the entirety of the second half to kick seven goals to one and get the win.
Andy Jones continued a big season for the Hoppers with a best-on-ground three-goal performance, with Corey Percy, Keegan Oliver and Phillip Creighton all influential.
Tyler Amor-Beale was again class for the Redeyes along with Beau Close and Lachie MacDonald.
The Hoppers remain ninth on the ladder, but are only out of the top eight on percentage.
●Waaia did what it had to against Jerilderie, coming up with an 18-point triumph.
The Demons were 21 points ahead at quarter-time after a huge first term, but the Bombers got back into the game after that and eventually gutsed out the win.
Ash Thompson continued red-hot form for the Bombers along with Jordan Cleeland and Jesse Trower, with the Bombers second on the ladder.
Ned Beasley, James McRae and Grant Smith were good for the Demons.
●Katunga came up with its second win of the season, beating Tocumwal by 19 points.
In another topsy-turvy contest, the Bloods led by 20 points at quarter-time and four points at the half, but the Swans rolled home with four goals to one in the second half.
Dylan Sidebottom kicked three goals for the Swans, who were well led by Kevin Vandengoor, while Dion Metzner did what he could for the Bloods.
●After consecutive one-point losses, the Deniliquin Rovers played another thriller on Saturday, but this time got the chocolates.
The Rovers held strong this week to beat Mathoura by just two points, despite being 19 points down at quarter-time.
Andy May, Rhys McCulloch and Nathan Kerr were the standouts, with Djaran Whyman, Terry Lumbar, James Kirby and Ricki Waters kicking two goals each.
Callum Harding-Davies kicked three for the Timbercutters, who were led by Jack Hughes, Amos Farrell and Earl Handy.
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