The Narrandera Imperial Eagles’ Football Netball Club (Eagles) senior team matched the ladder leaders in the opening half last Saturday, but couldn’t match their opponents in the final two quarters.

The Eagles 8.7 (55) lost against the Coolamon Rovers 16.10 (106) in their Riverina Football League home game at the Narrandera Sportsground.

Starting well, the Eagles led by two goals at the end of the opening quarter.

The Rovers fought back in the second quarter, but the Eagles held on to a four-point halftime lead.

After the restart, the Rovers showed why they head the ladder, kicking six goals and two behinds, while restricting the Eagles to booting two goals and a single behind.

By the time the third-quarter siren had sounded, the Rovers had turned around a four-point deficit to lead by 21 points heading into the final quarter.

The Rovers added another six goals in the fourth quarter to blow out the scoreline.

The goal kickers for the Eagles included Samuel Severin (2) and one each for Isaiah Hutchison, Barry O’Connor, Issaac Carrol, Cooper Irons, Darcy Mimmo and Riley Boag.

Their best players were Blake Renet, Christian Davis, Darcy Mimmo, Barry O’Connor, Issaac Carroll and Darcy Pendergast.

Meanwhile, the Eagles’ reserves 10.6 (66) defeated the Rovers 9.5 (59) in a close game.

A slow start, kicking a single goal in the opening quarter, resulted in the Eagles chasing a 27-point deficit heading into the second quarter.

Restricting the Rovers to just one goal, while adding three goals and two behinds themselves, saw the Eagles trail by just 13 points at the main break.

They cut into the margin more in the third quarter, reducing the Rovers’ lead to seven points to give themselves a chance of winning.

The comeback victory was completed in the fourth quarter when the Eagles kicked three goals and two behinds while restricting their opponents to a single six-pointer.

The Eagles’ goal kickers were Cooper Irons (3), Andrew Beal (2), Louis Deen (2) and one for Mitchell O’Keefe, Luke Paterson and Noah Tait.

Their best players included Joel Hatty, Cooper Irons, Austyn Rankin, Tomas van Buuren, Shaun Quilter and Andrew Beal.

The Eagles’ Under 18s 10.8 (68) also beat the Rovers 5.9 (39) to remain top of the ladder.

Only nine points separated the teams, in the Eagles’ favour, at the end of the opening quarter.

A low-scoring second quarter resulted in the Eagles kicking a single goal and three behinds, but it was enough for them to extend their lead to 14 points going into the main break.

Rallying after the restart, the Rovers reduced the Eagles’ lead to 10 points with one quarter left to play.

However, the final quarter proved to be the Eagles’ most productive as they kicked five goals and two behinds to record a convincing 29-point win.

The Eagles’ goal kickers included Archie Boag (3), Noah Tait (2), and one each for Riley Boag, Max Beaton, Fox Morris, Huxley Coelli and Mateo Gonzalez.

Their best players were Zac Scott, Jett Eldridge, Felix Warren-Porteous, Noah Tait, Huxley Coelli and Jacob Hutchins.

The Eagles will host the Ganmain Grong Grong Matong Lions on Saturday at the Narrandera Sportsground in Round 17, the penultimate round of the regular competition.

The bounce-up for the seniors is at 2.10pm, 12.10pm for the reserves and the Under 18s will start at 10.20am.