Birdsville 1415 d Cradle Mountain 1296

Best: Birdsville - Houli 165, Mayne 155, 4 other 100+

Best: Cradle Mountain - Pendles 158, Reddan and Goldsack (wow) 115.



The Skinny: Always reckon scoring nigh on 1300 and losing by 100+ is tough, yet the Devils have done exactly that after running into a rampant Battlers' line-up. Battlers' defence is scary-good - little wonder they are top four - while the Devils will play worse than this and win plenty of games. Top quality match-up.





Darraweit 1188 d Marble Bar 1010

Best: Darraweit - Armitage 137, Eddie 113, Hoff 98

Best: Marble Bar - Yeo 119, Ryder 89, Rich/Laird (they usually are) 89



The Skinny: Darraweit remain on top and undefeated after a win against an undermanned Misfits outfit. The Dirigibles dodging more bullets than Neo in the Matrix to keep winning despite subpar scores - though Armitage and Betts shone this week. The Misfits faith in Yeo is being repaid, while Ryder flies high. But a missing backman and a Kelly/WHE red vest-green vest two step was too much to overcome.





Larrikin Lagoon 1316 d Foul Bay 1236

Best: Lagoon - BJ 134, Mitchell 116, Priddis 112

Best: Foul Bay - Dangermouse 119, Heater 122, Mummy 107



The Skinny: The revamped Lefties have been threatening for some weeks, and came through with the win over Foul Bay on the weekend. Goddard justifying the trade (Writer's note - can I borrow him for a couple of weeks?) while solid consistent scores across the park boost the total. Talent left on the bench too. For Foul Bay, regrettably some good scores also left on the bench, while Pav being walloped into next week was a nail in the coffin. James Kelly's injury has most of us wincing.





Powlett Plains 1301 d Gariwerd 1041

Best: Packers - Dempster 134, Mundy 133, Clancee 129, the other Tom Lynch 119

Best Gariwerd - Masten 119, Fisher 105, Hurn 89



The Skinny: Here come the Packers. Four wins on end now, and a bevy of good performances is comfortably enough to overcome Gariwerd (and make up for Lachie Henderson's two-point game). 90+ out of Cam Wood? Wow. For the Cockies, a few players off the pace and a forward line that didn't quite click into gear. Fisher's great form continues, while Masten tonned up in the midfield.





Wagga Wagga 1164 d Whitsunday 1090

Best: Wombats - Shiel 119, Double Denim man 113, Jasper 104, old man Murphy 100

Best Whitsunday - Boak 124, JJK 116, Barlow 104



The Skinny: Wagga win their third despite a few scoring hassles. 6 scores over 90 from defenders and midfielders were enough to get the job done. Bob Murphy having a vintage season. Whitsunday lamenting they can't get everyone to fire on the same week - Barlow enjoys his best game for the season but Sloane is well down. Lobbe's form a concern, though Warnock encouraging.





Lovely Banks 1164 d Charlie's Opening 1157

Best: Lilacs - Duncan 140, Thompson 131, The Canadian 109, Langdon 107

Best: Spelunkers - Gunston 135, The Steeplechaser 111, Bont 100



The Skinny: The Lilacs enjoy the sweet smell of success for the first time in 2015. Needing a miracle going into the last quarter of the last game, Scott Thompson made himself into a hero, scoring 70 points in 30 minutes and sparking celebrations around Geelong. For the Spelunkers, just not quite enough big games when needed. Savage's injury proved costly, though Gunston impressed. Blicavs again proved his value in the ruck with a big score.





Nunawading 1204 d Iron Knob 1150

Best: Nuffers - The Beard 135, Stanton 111, JPK 105, Easton Wood (huh?) 101

Best Codpieces - Gray 134, Shuey 118, Breust/Harbrow 105



The Skinny: Celebrations in suburban Melbourne with the Nuffers chalking up their second win in a row despite fielding an uncomfortable number of Carlton players. Charlie Dixon's return was massive - Dixon kicking 4 and his beard a further 2. And yes, Easton Wood continues to play well - who woulda thunk it? For Iron Knob, well, you know things are going against you when one player is a late withdrawal, and his replacement is carted off injured without scoring a point. Robbie Grey tried his hardest to inspire, and Harbrow's return was encouraging.





Waikikamoocow 1315 d Mt Beauty 1188

Best: Incorrigibles - Dan Hann 144, Harry 131, Fyfe 128

Best: Mt Beauty - Bennell 146, Martin 113, B Ellis 109



The Skinny: The prodigal footballer returns with a bang - Tom Mitchell's 114 helping guide the Cows to win number 4. Cows' coach Graeme sending gifts to Horse Longmire as we speak in the hope young Tom retains his place.Hannebery and Fyfe continue on their merry way, while Mason Wood looks a footballer with a future. The Uglies enjoyed solid service through the middle and up forward (6 100+ scores), but Jake Batchelor proves to be no OOP ruckman and a young bench shows potential but lacks scoring punch.





Venus Bay 1354 d Gundagai 1212

Best: Vultures - Stef Martin 125, Schulz 117, The Gambler/Gaff (how fitting) 115

Best: Hoppers - Oxley 148, Babyface Neale 145, Grundy 119.



Venus Bay continue to impress, now second on the ladder (and the best team in the comp by this writer's thinking) with a hard-fought win over the improving Hoppers. The Vultures travelling so well they left the rampaging Liam Picken on the bench for the second week running. Frighteningly deep and talented team. The Hoppers though are on the march, with or without Tom Rockliff who continues to get belted by opposition players. Oxley an inspired draft pick, Neale playing well and a heap of youngsters looking to make names for themselves. Entertaining game.





The Ladder:


<table width='591' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0' border='0]
<col width='257' style='width: 193pt;[/img] <col width='29' style='width: 22pt;[/img] <col width='26' style='width: 20pt;[/img] <col width='23' style='width: 17pt;[/img] <col width='64' span='4' style='width: 48pt;[/img] </colgroup>
<tbody>


<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]Team
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]P
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]W
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]L
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]For
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]Against
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl69] color: #00b050;]Last 5


<tr height='21' style='height: 15.75pt;]
<td style='height: 15.75pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Darraweit Guim Dirigibles
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]0
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6215
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5643
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]110.14%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]WWWWW




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Venus Bay Vultures
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]4
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]1
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6456
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6113
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]105.61%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]WLWWW


<tr height='23' style='height: 17.25pt;]
<td style='height: 17.25pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Waikikamoocow Incorrigibles
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]4
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]1
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6390
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6112
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]104.55%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]WLWWW


<tr height='22' style='height: 16.5pt;]
<td style='height: 16.5pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Birdsville Battlers
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]4
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]1
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6332
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5859
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]108.07%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]LWWWW


<tr height='22' style='height: 16.5pt;]
<td style='height: 16.5pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Powlett Plains Packers
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]4
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]1
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6247
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5765
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]108.36%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]LWWWW




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Foul Bay Chickens
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]3
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]2
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6501
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6036
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]107.70%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]WWWLL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Wagga Wagga Wombats
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]3
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]2
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6379
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6360
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]100.30%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]WLLWW




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]Charlies Opening
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]3
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]2
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]6108
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]5912
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl68]103.32%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl67]WWWLL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Nunawading Nuffers
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]3
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]2
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5734
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6091
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]94.14%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]LWLWW




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Larrikin Lagoon Lefties
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]2
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]3
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6330
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6412
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]98.72%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]LWLLW




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Iron Knob Codpieces
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]2
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]3
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6280
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6230
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]100.80%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]WLWLL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Mount Beauty Uglies
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]2
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]3
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5790
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5893
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]98.25%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]WWLLL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Gundagai Grasshoppers
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]2
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]3
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5516
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5828
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]94.65%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]LLWWL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Cradle Mountain Devils
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]1
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]4
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6186
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6338
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]97.60%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]LLLWL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Gariwerd Cockatoos
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]1
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]4
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5746
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5898
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]97.42%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]WLLLL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Lovely Banks Lilacs
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]1
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]4
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5604
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6286
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]89.15%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]LLLLW




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Marble Bar Misfits
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]1
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]4
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5553
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6109
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]90.90%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]LWLLL




<td style='height: 15pt; width: 193pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]Whitsunday Warriors
<td style='width: 22pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 20pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]0
<td style='width: 17pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]5612
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]6094
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl66]92.09%
<td style='width: 48pt; text-align: left;' class='xl65]LLLLL






Darraweit remain on top, but the challengers are gathering. Lovely Banks lift themselves off the bottom.





Next week:

Round 6 08.05 - 10.05 International Players

Our NZ team has a home game this round, as well as Whitsunday and Gundagai who are coached by expats living in Thailand and the US respectively. Lovely Banks currently lobbying to have Mike Pyke automatically given 200 points start for the weekend.



Birdsville Battlers v Lovely Banks Lilacs

Nunawading Nuffas v Wagga Wagga Wombats

Waikikamoocow Incorrigibles v Gariwerd Cockatoos

Venus Bay Vultures v Foul Bay Chickens

Gundagai Grasshoppers v Marble Bar Misfits

Mt Beauty Uglies v Cradle Mountain Devils

Iron Knob Codpieces v Darraweit Guim Dirigibles

Charlies Opening Spelunkers v Larrikin Lagoon Lefties

Whitsunday Warriors v Powlett Plains Packers



Some great games upcoming - the Battle of the birds should be a good one, while Lefties-Spelunkers and Wagga-Nunawading crucial eight point games&amp;rdquo;.