THE first Cross Conference matches of the new-look Men’s Premier League competition took place across Round 4 and the end result was victories for UWA Conference teams Rangers and Triton along with wins for Fremantle sides Port Colts and Melville Sharks.

The 2017-18 Men’s Premier League season over the opening three rounds consisted of teams in the respective Fremantle and UWA Conference battling each other.

But after they had all played each team in their own Conference, it was time for the first Cross Conferences in Round 4.

It began on Saturday with two games at Bicton Pool that saw Port Colts score their first win of the season beating UWA City Beach 17-5 and then Melville Sharks defeating Flotsam 10-8.

Meanwhile at HBF Stadium also on Saturday, the UWA City Beach Rangers drew 5-5 with the undefeated South Fremantle Bloods.

The round concluded Thursday evening at Bicton Pool in a goal fest that ended up with Triton defeating Dolphins 20-10.

Following the opening four rounds now of the 2017-18 Men’s Premier League season, the South Fremantle Bloods are still leading the Fremantle Conference with three wins and a draw, just ahead of the 3-1 Melville Sharks. Dolphins have one win and three losses as do Port Colts.

And in the UWA Conference, Triton improves to a 3-1 record while Rangers are 2-1-1 and Flotsam 2-2. The youthful City Beach are 0-4.

After the opening four rounds, it’s German Olympic powerhouse and UWA Torpedoes veteran Florian Naroska leading the way in terms of scoring, with 16 goals so far. Another Olympian, Joel Swift of the Melville Sharks has 13 goals.

Will McKay from the South Fremantle Bloods has scored eight goals while Jake Leavy (Sharks), Brett McGhie (Triton), Petar Tomasevic (Bloods) and Alex Bogunovich (Flotsam) all have seven goals apiece.

The Cross Conference Men’s Premier League action began on Saturday at Bicton Pool with the battle of two winless teams, Port Colts and UWA City Beach.

Port Colts quickly opened up a gap on the youthful UWA team entered in this season’s competition. The home team scored five goals to nil in the opening quarter and then five more to one in the second to be in control leading 10-1 by half-time.

UWA City Beach managed to stem the tide in the second half but it didn’t stop Port Colts from recording a confidence-boosting 17-5 win to open their account for the season.

Tom Prior scored four goals for Port Colts, Tim Neesham three, Clancy Neesham two, Alex Petrov two and Drew Verboon two. Matthew Murphy scored twice for City Beach.

Prior was given the three votes after the game, Clancy Neesham two and Tim Neesham one.

Also at Bicton Pool to close the day’s action on Saturday, the Melville Sharks hosted UWA Flotsam.

Melville started well managing to get three goals past out of retirement Flotsam goalkeeper Luke Quinlivan in the opening six minutes. Those goals came from Nick Redbond, Joel Swift and Rory Orrells. Flotsam did get one goal back before quarter-time from Phil Salter.

Flotsam then scored the first two of the second quarter from Andrew Ford and Taz Williams to tie scores up at 3-3. But Melville went to half-time leading 4-3 following an extra man goal from Tom Ball.

Again Flotsam drew level early in the third period with a goal from Henry Brown. Things remained tight with the Sharks leading 7-6 at three quarter-time and then 8-6 with a goal to Orrells to start the fourth.

Flotsam did pull one back from Tom Sangster but the Sharks did enough to win in their home pool with late scores from Lachie Benetti and Jack Leavy to prevail 10-8.

Rory Orrells, Jake Leavy and Joel Swift all scored two goals for the Sharks. Henry Brown and Nick Hughes scored twice each for Flotsam.

Swift received the three votes, Phil Salter the two and Leavy the one.

And at HBF Stadium, it always shaped as a fascinating contest between the 2-1 Rangers and 3-0 South Fremantle Bloods, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Rangers scored the only first quarter goal courtesy of Will Lantzke before South Fremantle drew level to start the second thanks to a penalty from Petar Tomasevic.

But the UWA team pulled away before half-time to lead 3-1 at the change of ends following two goals from Tom Powell.

It was then a scoreless third quarter before South Fremantle scored a penalty early in the fourth from Tomasevic. Rangers moved ahead 4-2 shortly after with a goal from Lachie Vos but the Bloods wouldn’t be denied.

They scored two goals in less than a minute from Tomasevic and Alex Gunnell to make it 4-4.

The Bloods then looked set to win with an extra man goal from Jacob Jones. But Rangers pulled off the miracle with four seconds left with a goal from Amir Baraei to secure the 5-5 draw.

Tom Powell scored two of the five goals for Rangers and Petar Tomasevic three for South Fremantle.

Lachie Vos from Rangers was awarded the three votes, Tomasevic the two and Powell one.

Then on Thursday night at Bicton Pool, the round concluded with Triton and Dolphins met and played out a remarkable contest featuring 30 goals.

The tone was set in the first quarter with 10 goals alone scored between the two teams. It was Triton who got the jump leading 7-3 by quarter-time following two goals each from Matt Oberman and Gaby Tebar. Harry Paterson scored two of the three for Dolphins.

It was three more goals to one for Triton in the second period, five to three in the third and five to three in the fourth as they ran out 20-10 victors.

Power forward Florian Naroska finished with six goals for Triton, Matt Oberman three, Max Contessi three, Gaby Tebar three, Jayden Horne two and Jack Perry two. Harry Paterson scored four times for Dolphins and Xandy Buckland two.

Naroska was awarded the three votes, Paterson the two and Oberman the one.

PREMIER LEAGUE 2017-18 MEN’S COMPETITION RESULTS

ROUND 4 – Saturday November 4
Cross Conference
Rangers 5 drew with South Fremantle Bloods 5
Port Colts 17 defeated UWA City Beach 5
Melville Sharks 10 defeated Flotsam 8
Triton 20 defeated Dolphins 10