Waaia and Katandra endured a 16 round wait before a highly-anticipated Picola District Football League grand final rematch and someone clearly forgot to let the weather gods know about it.

On a miserable cold day that had a chilling breeze and regular downpours, it was drab conditions to play in at Waaia Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

Boundary line puddles and a centre square mud pit illustrated all one needed to know about the conditions Bombers and Kats players were set to brave, but Waaia playing coach Mitch Cleeland had a clear message for his troops to embrace the contested nature of play set to ensue.

“The main message was just to make sure that we had 21 guys buy into a role and playing their role,” Cleeland said.

“If we committed to the footy and committed to the contest, we were confident that we'd have the ability to be able to make sure that we won.”

The game started as expected, with the slippery conditions and waterlogged pill ensuring play remained on the deck and stoppage-heavy.

However, it became clear early on that Waaia was slicker with its skills when in possession, as the Kats repeatedly fumbled the ball, even with time and space.

Waaia eventually broke the deadlock with two goals in a minute through quality entries inside 50, before a Katandra end-to-end transition burst through the middle of the ground saw the navy blue open their account.

The Bombers torpedoed Katandra’s sniff at a first quarter lead soon after, delivering two more goals before the first change to lead by 20.

Tensions reached boiling point in the second term as Waaia continued to strangle any attack by the Kats.

A goal from Waaia’s Dustin Blake opened the scoring account in the second term before a miskick across the face of goal was swooped upon by the Bombers to extend their lead further.

A crunching slam by Katandra ruckman Jake Curtis and the push and shove to follow symbolised growing frustration from the Kats as Waaia’s defensive brick wall put in its best performance for the season.

Katandra, which had a score of seven at the first break, remained scoreless for nearly three entire quarters, plucking a goal and behind after only the 20-minute mark of the final term.

While the sloshy conditions meant Waaia were also impacted offensively, the Bombers’ ability to hold second-placed Katandra to four scoring shots is their best defensive performance against a top-eight side this season.

“It was certainly miserable (conditions), but it was what we made of it,” Cleeland said.

“And I said to the guys at the start of day I didn't care if we only got over by a goal, but to play a four-quarter complete performance like that was extremely pleasing, and that's all I ask.

“It's always nice when you rock up one versus two and make a little bit of a statement, and I'm glad that we're on the winning side of the ledger.”

The win all but sews up the minor premiership for the reigning champs, but Cleeland said the Bombers won’t stop flying into finals.

“Continuing to make sure that we're in good rhythm, making sure that we're banding together well, so we won't be taking the foot off the pedal at all,” Cleeland said.

“It's making sure that we can carry as much momentum into the finals as we possibly can and keeping the same group together as long as we can.”

Harvey Walker and Jesse Trower were among Waaia’s best with Cleeland commending their outside work in the adverse weather.

Across the competition, there were plenty of heavy losses to take attention away from Katandra’s defeat.

Katunga suffered an 88-point loss to Berrigan, Mathoura a 112-point defeat to Jerilderie and Rennie a 118-point loss to Deniliquin.

Dookie United copped a brutal 141-point defeat at the hands of Katamatite, Tungamah walloped Tocumwal by 70 and Strathmerton coasted to a 34-point win over Picola United.

In the netball, Katandra was purring in the wet to record a nine-goal win over Waaia.

Katamatite also claimed a nine-goal victory over Dookie United, as the Rovers rolled Rennie by 36.

Strathmerton defeated Picola United by eight, Jerilderie evaded a scare from Mathoura to win by four, while Tocumwal notched a 15-goal win over Tungamah.

Berrigan and Katunga’s results were not available at the time of publication.

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Saturday, 15th July 2023

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