As the competition nears the midway mark of the season, premiership front runners Sale City are finding the opposition chapping at their heels and they may not be the only side worthy of talk about an elusive premiership.

Two nail biting contests highlighted North Gippsland football with reigning premier's CHURCHILL holding on in the dying minutes of the contest against Yarram to advance to a five-two win loss ledger.

The Mallee Football League enjoyed inflated crowd numbers for round 6 due to most other leagues involved in interleague duties.

The Geelong Football League has survived the best of the Goulburn Valley, and its own inaccuracy, to remain the No.1 ranked league in the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Championships.

It is now all tied up at the top of the Mallee Football League ladder. Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, Woomelang Lascelles and Ouyen United all sit on equal points with 3 wins and 1 loss.

The contest was appetising from the opening bounce with key match ups across the ground indicating the battle that was to eventuate.

In match of the round, Ouyen United will defend their unbeaten run at home to Woomelang Lascelles.

Last week's defining round pitted the competitions top three sides against their closely ranked rivals from fourth through to sixth place, with the higher ranked teams all finding themselves on the losing end as the make-up of the premiership ladder was again reshaped.

Sale City were handed their first defeat of season 2015, at the hands of last year's grand finalists HEYFIELD who hit their straps with a seven to two goal second term which set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

With top spot on the line, it was always going to be a tightly contested game between the Tigers and the Demons.