Four of the five rubbers between Empire of the Sun and Boy and Bear stretched over three tightly fought games.

It was the battle between the third grades, Boy and Bear's Rachel Troeth and sub Rebecca Hurley that pushed the result into the night.

Hurley claimed the first game (21-12) before Troeth found the strength to carry it into a decider with her win in the second (22-21).

Hurley managed to regain the ascendancy in the third (21-14) to run out a late-night winner.

Hurley's rubber along with that of another sub, second grade Gary Bloomfield would have put Empire of the Sun in good stead, however the result was already a foregone conclusion.

An earlier upset from Boy and Bear's Matt Monaghan at the expense of David Moloney and wins from Mandi Hancock and Lochie Donovan delivered the Monaghan captained team its third victory in as many weeks.

Gorillaz grinned with its first win of the season, in emphatic style against Spiderbait.

Andrew Dunn upset Barry Bassett in a three game classic which was only decided after both players were locked at 21-21 in the third.

Gary Bloomfield, Judy McNeight and Jeanette Bassett also piled on wins to ensure Gorillaz first victory of the season was a memorable one.

Hilltop Hoods also managed to get the proverbial monkey of its back with its first win of the season, a comprehensive one over Peking Duck.

Claire Monaghan, Andrew Nashed, Giovanna Monaghan and Paul Thompson all shared in wins while Denis Monaghan was the only victor for the opposition.

Wolfmother was always going to struggle against The Killers, especially in the absence of its captain Jo Orr.

Despite performing well enough to claim the first two of three rubbers, Wolfmother's hopes were dashed when Aaron Dalziel and David Coe helped to deliver The Killers another win.

In the battle of the Graveson boys Aiden survived a second game scare (21-18) from brother Riley to reign supreme.

Undefeated teams Boy and Bear and The Killers maintain first and second spot respectively on the ladder.

In an example of just how volatile the competition has been, the bottom two teams previous to this round (Hilltop Hoods and Gorillaz) now sit in third and fourth spot respectively.

Results (February 23)

WOLFMOTHER 2-4-179 lost to THE KILLERS 3-7-210

M Monaghan (sub) 0-0-30 lost to D Coe 1-2-42; B Kimber 1-2-63 def B Wallace 0-1-53; T Smith 0-0-21 lost to A Dalziel 1-2-42; S Monaghan 1-2-43 def Deb Moloney 0-0-31; R Graveson 0-0-22 lost to A Graveson 1-2-42.

EMPIRE OF THE SUN 2-6-255 lost to BOY AND BEAR 3-8-250

David Moloney 0-1-55 lost to M Monaghan 1-2-53; G Bloomfield (sub) 1-2-62 def L Martin 0-1-50; R Hurley (sub) 1-2-63 def R Troeth 0-1-48; D Gurney 0-0-33 lost to M Hancock 1-2-43; K McClintock 0-1-42 lost to L Donovan 1-2-56.

SPIDERBAIT 1-5-247 lost to GORILLAZ 4-9-263

B Bassett 0-1-59 lost to A Dunn 1-2-51; L Farrell 0-1-52 lost to G Bloomfield 1-2-61; M Sanchez 0-1-59 lost to J McNeight 1-2-54; M Cahill 1-2-59 def A Hurley 0-1-55; R Graveson (sub) 0-0-18 lost to J Bassett 1-2-42.

HILLTOP HOODS 4-9-237 def PEKING DUCK 1-3-176

C Monaghan 1-2-58 def A Dunn 0-1-38; T Martin 0-1-53 lost to D Monaghan 1-2-57; A Nashed 1-2-42 def R Hurley 0-0-27; G Monaghan 1-2-42 def T Dean 0-0-29; P Thompson 1-2-42 def S Hateley (sub) 0-0-25.

Ladder (after round three): Boy and Bear 15 (points), 102.27 (%); The Killers 15, 101.53; Hilltop Hoods 10, 109.79; Gorillaz 10, 102.24; Wolfmother 9, 93.47; Peking Duck 9, 90.88; Spiderbait 8, 106.99; Empire of the Sun 8, 92.91.