COLLINGULLIE-Ashmont-Kapooka is the new Riverina Football League premiership favourite after demolishing Wagga Tigers by 73 points at Gumly Oval on Saturday.
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Wagga Tigers looked far from the team that had taken it to seven straight victories as the Demons replaced them on top of the ladder with the big win, 16.10 (106) to 4.9 (33).
CAK got the better of a tight opening half to lead by 18 points at the main break but the Demons then upped the ante in the second half.
The third quarter was all one-way traffic and only inaccuracy in front of goal prevented the Demons from being further in front than the 39-point advantage they held.
The last term was more of the same as CAK kicked the final seven goals of the game to record one of its most impressive wins of the year.
Kal Sykes was sensational at full-back and along with Chris Gow, James Morris and Tom Edgar, the Demons were sensational in defence.
Marc Geppert was dominant, yet inaccurate, up forward and kicked five goals as he, Matt Withers and Jimmy Morris caused constant headaches for Tigers’ defence.
CAK coach Shane Lenon rated it equal with the victory over Coolamon as his team’s best performance of the season but did not want any talk of premiership favouritism.
“We’re on top now but there is still a long way to go,” Lenon said.
“I’m not going to say that we’re not after that spot, because that would be nice, it gives you an advantage, a week off and a home final.
“I’m not sure if that’s how Tigers approach it but I think if you’ve looked at it, the side that finishes on top would have won quite a few over the years.
“It doesn’t guarantee anything, but it gives you an advantage going in.
“So we’re on top now but the name of the game is to be on top after round 16.”
One of the highlights of the Demons’ performance was the way they moved the ball through the Tigers’ defensive press.
Lenon was particularly pleased with that part of CAK’s game.
“The blokes that had the footy in their hands never panicked and picked right options and that’s something we worked on during the week because we all know that’s the way they play, that’s their structure,” Lenon said.
“So I was happy with that, our ball use was really good but to me the two things, and we touched on them during the week, was our physicality and our hardness at the ball, and our tackling, geez our tackling was absolutely fantastic.”
“And that was happening all over the ground.”
CAK’s best were Sykes, Gow, Edgar, Geppert and Josh Meiselbach.
Shaun Flanigan and Pat Noonan tried hard on a dirty day for Tigers, who also lost Nick Ryan to injury in the opening quarter.
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