Pembroke Kings draw to seal survival in division four of the Adelaide Footy League
An Adelaide Footy League club was on the brink of its third relegation in as many seasons until a missed shot sealed an unlikely draw and survival on Saturday.
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Pembroke Old Scholars staved off a third-straight relegation when a missed kick after the siren ensured its survival for another season in division four of the Adelaide Footy League.
The Kings were staring down the barrel of demotion from division two to five in three swift seasons coming into its penultimate minor round clash at Edwardstown on Saturday.
Leading by 15 points at the last change, Pembroke held on for a 9.6 (60) to 8.12 (60) draw and a vital point for survival.
Edwardstown forward George Cornish had a shot after the siren to win the game for his side but missed.
The away win over the highly fancied Towns – who will finish third on the ladder – meant the Kings moved a game and a half clear of ninth-placed Pooraka, which lost to Kilburn on Saturday.
Pembroke coach Tim Hart said it was pleasing to be able to consolidate following back-to-back demotions.
“The Pooraka score wasn’t on the website so it was quite a while before we found out that result,” Hart said.
“When it came through there was an enormous sense of relief.
“We’ve won six and a half games and we’ve lost two by under a goal, so you put those on top of yesterday and you’re right in the mix.
“I think it (survival) is a fair result for our year’s work.
“We would have been unlucky to go down – six or seven wins doesn’t usually send you down.”
Pembroke won the division three flag in 2016 to gain promotion to the second tier but were immediately relegated the next season with a 3-15 record.
The situation became worse in 2018 as the Kings managed just one win for the season and suffered a second-straight demotion prior to the current campaign.
Pembroke defeated bottom side Colonel Light Gardens the week before Saturday’s draw against Edwardstown to create a crucial one-win buffer over Pooraka.
Hart, who is out of contract at the end of the season but keen to continue, was hopeful the club could now rebound following some recruiting struggles.
He said Pembroke had struggled with depth but battled to attract players.
“The truth of the matter is, you’re always better off not being relegated,” Hart said.
“The reason being it’s increasingly difficult to attract players the lower the division you’re in.
“Particularly as an old scholars footy club where we don’t have a massive junior program underneath us ... we also haven’t got the money of the big district clubs.
“So we mainly have to attract players who have gone to the school.
“The higher the grade you can offer an 18 or 19-year-old kid or an old scholar coming out of an SANFL club, the more attractive the club is.
Hart was “absolutely certain” the club had missed a number of school leavers due to that issue, particularly to division one club Adelaide University in the most recent off-season.
patrick.keam@news.com.au