In a battle of the Tigers, the Woonona club surged to a 32-points half-time lead, before clawing to a 12.7 (79) to 9.10 (64) win at Artie Smith Oval. It means Northern Districts move to 3-4, Bomaderry now seventh at 2-5, a week before the new AFL South Coast format of a three-tier, top six format is introduced. 

However, Bomaderry can still make it, needing an 18 points – or roughly 130 points differential swing – next Saturday, when they take on struggling Port Kembla and Northern Districts face third-placed Wollongong Bulldogs. 

“A huge win for the club, we knew we had to go there and win in term of the relegation battle,” president Patrick Woodley said. 

“Bomo really came at us in the second half, but we held our nerve, especially when it came down to a couple of kicks in it, in the last quarter. 

“We know there’s still work to do, it’s another big game next week.” Winger Andre Stamoulous was rated Northern Districts best, while Owen Kocyan did a superb job in unfamiliar territory playing at fullback.

Elsewhere, the on-field woes continued for Port Kembla and Nowra-Albatross.  An undermanned Port went down by 197 points to in-form Kiama, who piled on a stunning 54 scoring shots, while the Vikings forfeited to Kiama, weeks after the Blacks also withdrew from a game. Premiers Lions held off a determined Shellharbour to win by 22 points.