Clawing way to top

The Port Hedland Rovers’ unbeaten streak came to an end on the weekend, going down to the Karratha Kats in a face-off that looked like it could go either way for most of the game.

Heading into the weekend both teams stood at the top of the North Pilbara Football League — Rovers with an unbeaten streak and the Kats having only narrowly gone down to the South Hedland Swans in round two.

The game began slowly with both sides only able to nudge one goal before the first quarter finished despite good weather, Rovers 1.0 (6) to Kats 1.4 (10).

The second quarter continued much the same way, with the Rovers coming out slightly stronger and scoring two goals and two behinds while managing to hold the Kats to just one behind for the quarter.

If there was a definitive quarter in the game the third would be it, with Karratha coming out firing to see Port Hedland unable to get a shot on goal the whole quarter, while the Kats were able to slot two goals home and take the lead heading into the final quarter.

The Rovers finally got going in the fourth quarter, but it proved too little, too late. They scored two goals from five shots, and kicking three behinds which, had they gone through the middle, would’ve made all the difference.

The Kats on the other hand were able to slot through another two goals and two behinds to hold onto their third quarter lead and guarantee their spot on top of the North Pilbara Football League ladder.

The final scoreline was Rovers 4.5 (29) to Kats 5.7 (37). It meant reigning premiers Karratha Kats are back on top of the ladder, closely followed by the Port Hedland Rovers and the South Hedland Swans in third.