Kats take down Falcons in first round of NPFL

The reigning premiers’ football season is off to a roaring start, with the Karratha Kats taking down their cross-town rivals, the Falcons, by more than 80 points on Saturday night.

The derby clash, played at Bulgarra Oval, was the first for the two teams in the 2019 North Pilbara Football League season, and before the ball was bounced, respect was paid to those who had served in the armed forces as a nod to Anzac Day.

Members of the Pilbara Regiment marched between the two teams, and The Last Post was played, the national anthem was sung, then players got down to business. The Kats were never in doubt, kicking the first goal and continuing in the same fashion throughout.

The Falcons were able to hold on for the first term and entered the second quarter only two goals down, but the Kats quickly ran away with the game.

They booted a massive 7.1 in the second term, compared with just two goals from the Falcons, and extended their lead to 45 points at half-time. In the third term, the Falcons kicked 1.1, while the Kats added on another 6.3 to lead by 77 at the final change.

The Kats finished the game with another 2.3, while the Falcons added insult to injury and were unable to kick a goal in the last quarter.

The final score was Falcons 5.6 (36) to Kats 19.11 (125).

Kats coach John Wellington said his boys had done the hard work over the pre-season, and now they were being rewarded. “They’re fitter and stronger — we’ve got a really strong list,” he said.

“Watching two sides put a game plan in place and be so advanced with it this early in the season is just exceptional.”

Unfortunately it was a similar story in the reserves, with the Falcons only managing 1.2 for the game, while the Kats booted 20.13 and secured themselves a 125-point first-round victory.