It has taken 15 rounds for a PDL football grand final rematch, but the day was well worth the wait for Waaia, toppling the Tigers by 28 points at Waaia Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
While both clubs would undoubtedly choose the 2025 silverware over a home and away victory, the win for Waaia has propelled it towards a 2026 flag, and boosts the Bombers’ confidence ahead of a top of the table clash against currently unbeaten Katandra in round 16.
A four-goal flurry put the Tigers in front by eight at quarter-time, but Waaia would hold the yellow and black to just one goal in the second term to snare a six-point half time lead.
The third quarter is often coined the premiership quarter, and in a battle of last year’s premiership contenders, it was fitting that was where the game was won.
Five goals to two propped the Bombers out to a handy 21-point buffer, before they dug deep to grind out the final term to win 13.10 (88) to 9.6 (60).
Waaia’s Jesse Trower and Charlie Burrows shared the goalkicking spoils with four each, while Katamatite’s Mitch Ward led the Tigers scoring with three.
Brayden Coates was the Bombers’ best afield in the win that holds the red and black two games clear in second, and an enormous percentage of 341.5 per cent is set to elevate Waaia into pole position if it beats Katandra next week.
Around the grounds, Barooga has shot into third with a win over an inaccurate Tungamah, 7.6 (48) to 2.10 (22), while Tocumwal’s season is still mathematically alive after an eight-point win over Dookie United, 12.13 (85) to 12.5 (77).
In the weekend’s thrashings, Blighty mashed Mathoura by 96 points, Katandra pulverized Picola United by 122 points, the Rovers rolled Katunga by 64 and Jerilderie exterminated Rennie Grashoppers 14.19 (103) to 4.4 (28).
Berrigan remains in the top eight too, after an 11.10 (76) to 5.6 (36) upset win over fifth-placed Strathmerton.
In the netball, Katamatite excelled in the first half to rip the game away from Waaia in its 36-41 win.
The Tigers produced back-to-back 13 goal terms to hold a six-goal advantage at the main break, a buffer unable to be closed by Waaia at the final whistle.
The win places Katamatite fifth, two wins outside the top four, but should the Tigers at least hold its spot by the end of the season, it will hold a favourable elimination final draw against an eighth-placed side likely to have a negative win-loss record.
Meanwhile, the loss for the Bombers puts them seventh, sharing a 10-4 record with Katamatite and Tocumwal, but owning a lower percentage.
The Bombers and Tigers’ match wasn’t the closest of the round though, as Rennie pipped Jerilderie in a one-goal thriller, 40-41.
Mathoura scored its first win of the season against Blighty, 21-49, while Katandra has just about secured fourth with a 56-34 win over Picola United.
The Deni Rovers thrashed Katunga 66-14, Tungamah bulldozed Barooga 57-35, Strathmerton waltzed by Berrigan 43-24, and Dookie United kept within percentage of the ladder-leading Bears as it claimed a 13-goal win over Tocumwal, 50-37.
