The two sides had different encounters on their route to the top at the weekend, the men facing a top-of-the-table encounter, while the women ran up the score over a lowly-ranked rival.
The Border Raiders and Swan Hill had been exchanging top spot in men’s league 2 for several weeks, though the fluctuation was mostly caused by byes and reworked fixtures after the addition and withdrawal of other sides.
Swan Hill had the advantage on record going in, having not lost to this point and with two draws, while the Border Raiders had a loss and a draw marring their otherwise perfect record.
Echuca Moama had also lost the previous away fixture between the sides 5-2, but this time had the benefit of familiar surrounds at Jack Eddy Oval.
But disaster struck early for the host and Swan Hill was up with three minutes on the clock, Ethan Drummond firing his side ahead.
The Border Raiders trailed for most of the half, but worked their way back into the game as the clock ticked forward.
Just before the break they got their reward and Hugo Beggs levelled the scores a minute from time, changing the game situation for both coaches at the half-time interval.
Swan Hill knew it could hold on to top spot with a draw, but that was still a long way off, and both teams were still keen on taking all three points as the second half progressed.
With 20 minutes to play it was the home side that made the breakthrough, John Mana putting the Border Raiders up 2-1, and Swan Hill was suddenly chasing the game.
The pressure was compounded in the 78th minute, as Swan Hill’s Liam Baldwin, already on a yellow card, was shown red, reducing the visitor to 10 men down the stretch.
A depleted Swan Hill couldn’t find a late leveller and the Border Raiders surged to the top of the ladder with the 2-1 win.
The Border Raiders, now leading the league by two points, won’t play again until July 18, when they host Strathfieldsaye Colts.
Women
In a different fixture, the Border Raiders ran up the score against struggler La Trobe University, crushing their opposition 12-0.
It was a procession of goals from the outset and the hosts were up four at Jack Eddy Oval within 15 minutes.
Leading by seven at the half, Echuca Moama piled on another five after the break to secure the differential-boosting win.
Co-coach Paige Pinson and Roche Du Toit walked away with hat-tricks, while Maya Cox and Jessica Pemberton grabbed braces.
Caitlyn Quinn and Elise Atknison rounded out the scorers’ list.
Elsewhere, previous leader Swan Hill slipped up 2-1 against Castlemaine Goldfields, allowing the Border Raiders to take top spot by a point.
The two leaders will battle at Swan Hill this Sunday as Echuca Moama looks to lock in its leader status.
