HAMLEY Bridge fell agonisingly short of its first win since 2016 as it lost to Angle Vale by five points in Adelaide Plains A-grade football on Saturday afternoon.
The Owls were criminally wasteful early on, and kicked 1.5 to 1.1 to lead by just four points at the first change.
It looked as if it would be another painful day for the Bombers, as the deficit increased to 29 points at the main break.
However, something switched at half-time and Hamley Bridge booted six goals to three to stun the Owls and trail by just 10 points at the final break.
The Bombers were valiant and kicked 3.2 to the Owls’ 2.3 in the last term, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.
Sam Rosenzweig was terrific with four goals, while Hayden Bubner slotted three for the Bombers.
For the Owls, Brad Woodward proved to be the game winner with five majors, while Jay Rathmann slotted three.
Elsewhere, Hummocks-Watchman embarrassed Virginia by 100 points to end the Rams’ year.
The Eagles only led by eight points at quarter-time, but dominated after the first change with 18 goals to three.
Hummocks-Watchman was terrific in the second quarter, kicking away to a 25-point lead before opening up a 75-point deficit at three-quarter-time.
Nathan Studham was on fire with five majors, while Henry Wright and Joseph Murdock kicked three each in the rout.
Meanwhile, a dominant opening quarter was enough for Mallala to down United by 19 points.
The Magpies blew the Tigers out of the park early, kicking 6.4 to a goal to lead by 34 points at the first break.
United hit back in the second half and cut the margin to 17 points at the half-time break.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Magpies found another gear and kicked five goals to one to build a match-winning 43-point lead.
United kicked four goals to noth- ing in the final quarter, but it was too little, too late.
Travis Beard and Jesse Potts kicked three snags each for the Tigers, while Brian Montgomery and Angus Bruggemann both had four for the Pies.
Finally, Balaklava sealed a toptwo finish after defeating Two Wells by 38 points.
The Peckers were perfect in the opening quarter, kicking seven goals straight to 3.2 to open up a 22-point lead.
Both sides booted 3.2 in the second quarter, seeing the margin unchanged at half-time.
However, the Peckers blew the Roosters out of the water in the second half, scoring eight goals to five.
Shane Moss kicked four, putting him within two goals of his century for the season, while Ryan McPharlin added three.
For the Roosters, Caleb Edmead was terrific with five, while Ty Hocking slotted two.
The APFL finals get under way this weekend with Hummocks-Watchman taking on Mallala in the first semi-final at Hamley Bridge Oval.