Paraburdoo Saints march on in close tussle with Tom Price Panthers

Accuracy was key for the Paraburdoo Saints in a 27-point win over the Tom Price Panthers at Clem Thompson Oval last Saturday night.

Paraburdoo had 23 scoring shots to the home side’s 27, but a goal count of 15-9 in favour of the Saints was enough to hand the win to the visitors.

The Saints grabbed momentum early in the first term. An early Panthers goal to Andy Burford was followed by four unanswered majors to the visitors as they looked to assert their dominance.

The Panthers had their opportunities but failed to make the most of them. Wayward kicking and some poor decision-making in front of goal hampered their efforts to keep up as the scoreline blew out to almost three goals by the 15-minute mark.

It was looking like a rosy start for the Saints but two late goals to Panthers forwards Josh Kearney and Bradley Roberts had the first quarter at 5.1 (31) to 4.5 (29) in favour of the Saints.

The game quickly turned into a Saints masterclass in forward pressure in the second term.

The Saints locked the ball forward and while the Panthers stood up in defence, Adrian Curley in particular proved a rock for the home side, they could not escape their own goal line.

That pressure ultimately resulted in two goals in the space of two minutes.

Those goals, couple with the battering from the Saints forwards appeared to put some fire in the Panthers’ bellies.

They came out from the second restart amped up and quickly retaliated with three goals, the third through some lazy defence off a set shot in the goal square. The home crowd soon found their voice as the home side started to run.

Tackles also got heavier as the Saints looked to stem the turning tide and both sides worked to take the game by the horns.

The Panthers went into the main break ahead 7.7 (49) to 7.2 (44).

That lead would not last long though, as the fire they found in the second term faded and jitters in front of goal returned.

It remained an entertaining end-to-end running game but for every behind the Panthers scored the Saints retaliated with a goal.

Saints forward Simon Ponter took some crucial marks in Parabudoo’s forward 50 to help regain control of a see-sawing game.

Four unanswered goals left the Panthers trailing by 11 points at the final break, with the home side managing nine behinds, a few of which were rushed through, for the quarter.

It was more of the same in the final term as the Saints finished stronglt.

Four more goals capped off the match for the visitors, giving them a 15.9 (99) to 9.18 (72) win.

Ponter stood tall with six goals and Kelvin Groves kicked four. Josh Kearney bagged a triple for the Panthers.

The result leaves the Panthers winless at the bottom of the table, while the Saints sit two games clear of the Tigers in second position.