Kats sharpen claws to tear Sharks apart

Peter de KruijffPilbara News
Camera IconKarratha Kats' Frazer Palmer tries to pull down Dampier Sharks' Zac Langdon. Credit: Pilbara News

Reigning premiers Karratha Kats drew first blood in the opening game of the North Pilbara Football League season.

Kats travelled to the Windy Ridge oval, where they took on the Dampier Sharks, who finished last year strong, heading into the finals before being bundled out by the Kats in the preliminary match before the grand final.

A slow start proved insurmountable for the Sharks, with the Kats winning 10.8 (68) to 7.14 (56) in wet conditions.

The Kats kept the Sharks goalless in the opening quarter and picked up their scoring in the second to be 7.5 (47) to 2.7 (19) at the half.

The Kats kept their foot on the Sharks' throats, pushing forward with numbers and finding the open space.

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Kats' David Garlett and Brayden Wilson booted two goals each.

The Sharks had more shots on goal in the third, but inaccurate kicking cost them as they were five goals behind coming into the last quarter.

The Sharks held the Kats to a 1.2 final period, and kicked three more goals as forward Guy Langdon hit pay dirt from way out.

It was a brotherly affair for the Sharks with Langdon's siblings James Rhodes (two goals) and Zac Langdon (one goal) also getting on the scoreboard.

It was too little too late, though, as Kats held on for a strong win in a good start to their 2015 campaign.

The Kats had six other goal scorers, with Todd Kovacevich, Dylan Brand, Michael Smith, Vaughn Smith, Gareth Moncrieff, and Bevan Levis all kicking one each.

Shane Cole got two for Sharks, while half-back Brennan Stewart nabbed one.

The Kats also triumphed in the reserves match, getting up by one goal 10.8 (68) to 9.9 (63) in a heartbreaker for the Sharks and a hard fought win for Kats.

Both teams played hard, with two Kats players taken suffering apparent shoulder injuries.

With three minutes left on the clock, the Sharks scrambled to try to kick the winning goal, but were held off by Kats.

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