Football: Rovers dish out derby revenge

Port Hedland Rovers exacted revenge on their bitter cross-town rivals on Saturday night, beating Swans by 18 points to atone for a shock opening round loss earlier in the season.

A blistering opening quarter by Rovers, in which they booted six goals to two, was countered by Swans in the second term as the visitors moved to within four points at the main break.

Sensing a second derby defeat in as many outings, Rovers broke the game open in the third term as Tristan Myers (five goals) and Jason Orr (four) got on top of their respective opponents.

South Hedland was unable to close the gap in the final stanza as Rovers kept the visitors at arms length to record a 15.9 (99) to 11.15 (81) victory.

Jack Coppin was superb for Swans, booting four goals, while he had solid support from Nurherman Abu-Bakar and Kurtis Geary with two majors each.

Rovers’ victory keeps them two points clear of second-placed Karratha Falcons on the North Pilbara Football League ladder as the Port Hedland side enters a tough stretch of away fixtures which will test its premiership credentials.

Falcons continue to breathe down the neck of Rovers after posting a convincing 47-poin win over Kats in the Karratha derby.

Shaun Sullivan was the leading goal kicker for the victors with four majors while Brett Robinson and Rourke Walsh booted three each for Kats, currently sitting in third place.

In the final game of Round 6, Dampier Sharks humiliated Wickham with a punishing 119-point victory at Windy Ridge.

Despite three goals from former AFL star Jeff Farmer, Wolves were no match for Sharks who booted nine goals to one in the final term.

The loss leaves Wolves languishing at the bottom of the NPFL ladder with just one win and a draw from its opening six games.

In reserves action, the winless Swans gave the undefeated Rovers a mighty scare, booting the first five goals of the game, before Port Hedland reeled in their rivals to post a gutsy 13-point victory.

In other games, Karratha Falcons disposed of Kats by 75 points and Dampier defeated Wickham 13.6 (84) to 7.6 (48).