Casuals and Rovers avoid shock losses as Australs end Murchison’s unbeaten run

Casuals and Rovers were both pushed by lesser opponents but they both managed to stay on the winning side to maintain control over the top two spots on the ladder.

After their six-goal dismantling of Australs in round four most would have expected an easy win over the fourth-placed Saints.

But despite mixed results Saints have proven themselves a tough team to break down exemplified by their draw with Rovers last round.

They looked as if they would split the points again with Casuals battering away but not able to find the knockout blow until Clint Yeates used all his years of experience to settle the match 1-0 un stretch their win streak to seven games.

Rovers avoided what would have been an even bigger upset as they took down Yacht Club 3-2.

Yacht Club have not picked up a point this season coming into the game with only six goals to their name, but Denver Weldon and Xander Pieterse made sure the Rovers would not be given a walkover.

Kyle McVee saved their blushes with a hat-trick of goals and keep Casuals honest in first place.

Australs moved back into third with a 4-0 win against Murchison with goals to Justin Clarkson (2), Craig Koltasz and Chad Greenaway.

For the women, Cardinals had no dramas against Yacht Club with Gemma Dix, Camryn McKoy and Kiara Jones all scoring in their 3-0 win.

They were also given breathing room at the top of the ladder as Murchison, who was equal with the Cardinals on points, fell to their first defeat of the season to Australs courtesy of Dale Cleary’s effort.

Saints kept the struggling Swans winless with a 1-0 win with Lailah Belottie the goal scorer.

In the reserves, a Jay O’Sullivan hat-trick wasn’t enough for Yacht Club going down to Rovers 6-3 while Australs and Casuals picked up wins against Murchison and Saints respectively.

The women’s reserves had Saints Gold ease past the Swans 5-1 but it was their Black counterparts who had the biggest win of the round 6-0 with three goals to Lisa Norris.

Yacht Club 2 smashed the Vets 5-0 while Murchison edged Yacht Club 2-1 to notch their first win of the season.