COLLINGULLIE-Glenfield Park proved they are the team to beat for this year's Riverina League premiership with a resounding 41-point victory over Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes on Saturday.
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The only two undefeated teams remaining in the competition squared off and it was the Demons who staked their claim for the minor premiership with an impressive performance, winning 14.13 (97) to 9.2 (56) at Crossroads Oval.
The game was in the balance at three-quarter-time after MCUE kicked the final four goals of the third term to draw within nine points and set up a grandstand finish.
It was as close as the visitors were to get, however, as the Demons ran riot in the final term and finished with six goals to one to put the result beyond doubt.
The result was probably a fair indication of the contest in the end, as the Demons kept their arch-rivals in the contest early on by wasting opportunities in front of goal.
MCUE were able to turn it on for an 11-minute period in the third term, but apart from that, it was Collingullie's day.
The Demons celebrated defender Kal Sykes' 200th game in fine style and he was chaired off in front of the Collingullie faithful after the game.
The home team had winners all over the park, perhaps none bigger than reigning Jim Quinn Medallist, Jayden Klemke, in the midfield.
Marc Geppert booted six goals in a powerful display, while Jimmy Kennedy and Lachie Moore also had fine games.
The only sour note was a potentially serious hip injury to Matt Klemke, that saw him taken to hospital.
Colllingullie-GP coach Luke Gestier did not rate it as his team’s best performance of the year but was pleased to get the four points in such a big game.
"I thought we faded away at times but it's pleasing to come away with a 40-point win against our biggest challengers,” Gestier said.
"It was pleasing in a way, but as I said in there before, we've still got a lot of things to work on and if we've still got a lot of things to work on and we beat a side that, potentially, we're going to meet later in the year, well that's fantastic and there's nothing more I can really say to the boys.”
Gestier loved the way his team responded when challenged at three-quarter-time.
"To be honest, they had the ascendancy, they were only a goal down and in modern day footy, that's nothing. They had all the momentum and three-quarter-time couldn't come quick enough, we needed to regroup,” he said.
“The way we responded just shows to me we're going the right way and the boys have got a steely resolve, which is fantastic.
"We just butter up every week and do what we can do. It's pleasing, it's good because I don't like losing, but as I said to the boys, it's early days .
“We've just got to keep a lid on things and really work on what we need to work on.”
Andrew Dickins was best for MCUE and worked hard all day. He had an influence when moved into the ruck. Ryan Price and Will Keogh had a big impact when the Goannas made their charge in the third term.