THE Bomaderry Tigers slumped to their fifth premier men's defeat on Saturday, this time losing to the Shellharbour Suns at Myimbarr Oval.
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In a battle of the competition's two winless sides, it was the hosts who came out the more determined, jumping out to a 3.1-19 to 0.1-1 advantage at quarter-time.
But the Tigers responded in the second quarter by kicking three goals to one, to reduce the margin to just six points at the main break.
In the second half, the Suns stepped it up a gear and kicked four goals to one, to run out winners 8.6-54 to 4.6-30 - thanks to three goals from Nathan Kickett.
"It was definitely good to sing the [team] song again," Suns president Steve Ashworth said to Australian Community Media.
"It was a gutsy win, it was well-earned.
"'Bomo' was tough but we just kept going.
"I think we had probably had a little better fitness on the day than Bomo and we got over the top."
In the loss, Mitch Wurr, Adriaan Toms, Matt Hickmott and Tom Nichols kicked goals, while their top performers included Charlie Rodden, Siwa Harvey-Aziz, Courtney Ward, James Phillips and Luke McCann.
Elsewhere in the men's premier division, Northern Districts defeated the Wollongong Lions (10.4-64 to 8.4-52) for the first time in more than 20 years and Figtree fought back to edge Wollongong Bulldogs (15.12-102 to 11.8-72) - with Kiama having the bye.
In the women's premier division, the Tigers rebounded from their first defeat of the season to thump Kiama 5.4-34 to 0.2-2 at Bonaira Oval.
Goals from Nikki Murray (two), Emma Dempsey, Lily Macdonald and Sarah Currie set up the victory, with Rhianna Nelson, Bridget Kellett, Brooke Swankie, Jessica Wardale, Kate Bramley and Sophie Phillips all playing strongly too.
Elsewhere, Wollongong Saints remain undefeated by accounting for Bulldogs 3.24-42 to 0.2-2 and Lions ousted Norths 3.3-21 to 1.4-10.
In division one men's, Ulladulla smashed Bomaderry (16.21-117 to 0.1-1) and Nowra-Albatross held off Port Kembla (7.9-51 to 3.3-21).