On course to cause the biggest upset of the season, the Giants faded as Royals erased a nine-goal deficit in 15 minutes to prevail by two points, 14.5 (89) to 14.3 (87).

With only six goals to three-quarter time, the Lions piled on the last eight goals of the match after the Giants had kicked the first of the final term and increased their lead beyond nine goals.

Missing prolific midfielder Cleve Humphries and key defender John Hummerston, Royals were powerless to stop Robbie (7) and Terry Farmer (4) as the Giants’ dynamic forwards kicked their side to a 37-point lead at quarter time.

Only a solitary goal behind at the first break, Lions kicked four in the second quarter, matched by the Giants, making the score six goals each at half-time.

The margin was extended to 45 points at three-quarter time, before Royals sparked into action.

The dramatic fade-out overshadowed the Giants’ dominant performance for the previous three quarters.

Royals’ goals were shared by seven players, each kicking two majors, compared to Denmark’s over-reliance on the Farmer brothers who kicked 11 of their team’s 14.

James McRae continued his stellar form while defender Rhys Jones, Chris Denny and Ryan Kinnear were important in the stunning victory.

North Albany kept in touch with the top of the GSFL ladder with a 19-point win over Railways at Collingwood Park, 13.15 (93) to 11.8 (74).

The Kangas also came from behind after the Tigers shot to an early four-goal lead.

A six-goal-to-two second quarter enabled the Kangas to go into half-time leading by 11 points.

The second half swung in favour of both sides at crucial stages, until a goal to former Tiger Mark Proudlove gave the Kangas the needed breathing space in the final quarter.

Proudlove’s younger brother Warrick was the Kangas’ best, with his clean hands and disposal important in a tight affair.

Skipper Brett Hall and centre-half back Graham Ross were also four-quarter contributors.

Livewire forward Coleman Christinelli proved a handful for North’s defence to cover, finishing with six goals in a dominant display as his side’s only multiple goal scorer for the match.

Given plenty of space in the forward 50, Christinelli marked strongly and kicked important goals including the Tigers’ only two late in the second quarter to halt Kangas’ charge.

Rugged defender Brendan Towes, Nick Cramer, Jared Lane and youngster Shaun Doyle were the Tigers’ best.

The win was vital for the Kangas, who prevented Railways moving two games clear in second spot.

Railways host Denmark-Walpole on Sunday, while North Albany travel to Frost Park to take on Mt Barker.

– Tim Edmunds.