ULTIMA held off a fast-finishing Wandella to win the club’s first Golden Rivers Football League match of the season on Saturday.
Led by Basil Althouse, who kicked six goals, the reigning premiers defeated the Bombers by eight points in an entertaining encounter.
The ‘Roos went into the game boosted by the return of four players, including captain Brenton Pay, whilst the home side was missing Greg Dickson and Brodey Farley.
Both sides traded goals early in the opening term before Althouse and the ‘Roos took advantage of kicking with the breeze.
Three of Althouse’s goals came in a five-goal streak that set up a 30-point lead at the opening break.
Wandella then took advantage of the breeze in the second quarter, with a new recruit leading the way.
Whilst Bombers coach Paul Grayling was battling with Ultima defender, Nathan Condely, Clinton Cummins emerged as the player capable of getting the home side back in the game.
Cummins helped the home side reduce the margin to single figures, before Jacob Schaper led a late revival to help Ultima hold a 20-point lead at the main break.
The third quarter began promising for the home team, but Pay and Ultima’s midfielders controlled play to push the lead to 34 points at the final break.
The Bombers were able to stop Ultima from scoring in the final quarter, thank to Adrian Crellin’s role against Althouse.
The home side’s cause received a boost midway thing the term after Pay left the ground with a leg injury, but time became the Bombers’ enemy.
Cummins finished with five goals for the Bombers, with Schaper booting three goals for the victors.
Schaper, Condely and Mitch Seton-Stewart were best on ground for the ‘Roos, with Callaghan Gray, Tim Robinson and Cummins playing well for the Bombers.
Ultima hosts Murrabit on Saturday, with Wandella to travel to Moulamein.
Lions grind out win
HAY recorded a second consecutive defeat against 2015 Golden Rivers Football League semi-finalists, Nullawil on Saturday – the club’s first home and away win against the Maroons in more than a decade.
In a match that displayed two teams with contrasting styles of play, it was the Lions who prevailed by 15 points in front of the club’s home crowd.
The Maroons went into the game undermanned, missing centre half-forward Andrew Oberdorfer, midfielder Matt Heslop and defender Nick Williams.
Grant Ford continued his start to the season for the visitors, looking dangerous across half-forward, while at the other end key forward Justin Ellis was proving to be a real headache for Nullawil, taking several early marks with his height being a decisive advantage.
Ellis had a great duel with Jarrod Kemp all day, with Ellis showing glimpses of getting away but Kemp playing a solid game for the Maroons.
In a real arm wrestle between last season’s semi-finalists, neither side was giving an inch and the margin continued to stay close. Momentum shifted late in the second quarter with three late goals giving Hay a nine-point lead going into half-time.
This was on the back of their two star players having major influences on the match. Jackson Ferguson dominated across half-back, repelling any Nullawil attacks and with his penetrating kick was able to construct repeat forward 50 entries for the lions.
In the middle of the ground, Lions coach Simon Bunyan was winning plenty of contested ball and hurting the Maroons with his smarts around the grounds.
Goals were at a premium, though a costly 50-metre penalty allowed the Lions to stretch the lead beyond two goals early in the third term.
Neither side was fully able to get the contest on their terms, and whenever Nullawil tried take control of the game in the last quarter, Hay found a way to keep them just far enough away.
Daniel Watts and Jack Barry tried to lift the visitors in the midfield, but the class of Michael Dedini and Daniel Edwards – who finished with four goals – proved enough.
Hay travel to Macorna this weekend in a top of the table clash between the competition’s two undefeated sides, with the Maroons to travel to Quambatook.
Blues bounce back
MURRABIT bounced back from its opening round loss, defeating 2015 grand finalists, Quambatook by 59 points.
Little separated the teams during the opening half, before the home team kicked the only six goals of the third quarter to hold a 51-point lead at the final break.
Stan Ward led the way for the victors, kicking three goals in the absence of coach, Nathan Henry.
The Morison brothers – Bryden and Dylan – were best on ground for the Blues, with Matthew Roberts also playing well.
The Saints were limited to eight scoring shots for the second consecutive week, with Patrick Rattray kicking two of Quambatook’s six goals of the match.
Luke Jackson, Ricky Jochinke and Gregor Knight were best players for the Saints, who host Nullawil this weekend.
Murrabit travel to Ultima to take on the reigning premiers.
Tigers undefeated
MACORNA’S best start to a season since 2014 continues at the weekend, with the Tigers defeating Moulamein by 86 points.
The result was determined by half-time, with the home team leading by 47 points at the main break.
Brett Collins led the way in front of goals for a second consecutive week, booting five goals.
Brett O’Hanlon chipped in with three goals of his own, with Brad Ladson and Josh Dwyer also playing well for the victors.
Last season’s under 17.5 best and fairest player, Austin Mertz was the Swans’ top contributor, booting three of the side’s seven goals and being best on ground.
Macorna hosts Hay this weekend in the match of the round, with the Swans to host Wandella.
