ULTIMA will go into this weekend’s AFL Victoria Community Championship break as the only undefeated Golden Rivers Football League side after five rounds.
Last season’s grand finalists saw off Wandella in a 12-point win, despite registering three less scoring shots than the Bombers.
The loss – Wandella’s first since the 2016 first semi-final – dropped the side to fourth, locked with defending premiers, Murrabit, Hay and Quambatook as teams with 12 points so far in season 2017.
The Bombers’ hopes of registering a second consecutive win at the Ultima Recreation Reserve diminished in the first and third quarters, with Paul Gralying’s side unable to kick a goal in either term.
The hosts held a seven-point lead at the opening break, despite having half the number of shots on goal that Wandellla accumulated.
The lead increased to nine points at the main break, but five behinds to 1.2 in the third term hurt the Bombers’ hopes, with the margin between the sides rising to 12 points with one term to play.
Ultima coach, Jack O’Rourke led the way for the hosts, kicking four of his team’s eight goals, with James Kavanagh (two goals) Wandella’s sole multiple goalkicker.
Luke Kelson – who reduced Grayling to one goal and leading Bombers goalkicker, Sam Sperling to zero majors – was best on ground for the victors, with Arnold Kirby and James Summerhayes also standing out for Ultima.
Clinton Cummins and Tim Robinson were best on ground for Wandella, who host Wakool on May 20 – the same day Ultima travels to Macorna.
Saints in the four
QUAMBATOOK is locked in a four-way battle for second spot on the GRFL ladder following a 23-point win against Moulamein.
A four-goal to one second term helped set up the Saints’ first win since the Easter break, with the match becoming a shootout in the final quarter.
Moulamein went into the match looking for consecutive wins for the first time since 2009, but were on the back foot at the opening break, trailing by 11 points.
Quambatook’s second quarter efforts increased the lead to 30 points at the main break – which was the same margin between the sides with one term to play.
Both teams were accurate in the final quarter, which the Swans claimed by kicking seven goals from eight scoring shots.
The Saints were almost as accurate, booting 6.2 in the last 25 minutes of the game.
William Barden and Martin Angus kicked four goals each for the victors, with Patrick Caldwell (five goals) reaping the benefits of Moulamein’s pre-season recruiting.
Chris Varsamakis and Mark Ellis were best on ground for the victors, with Tim Hanns and Max Baldissera playing well for the Swans.
Moulamein will travel to Hay on May 20, whilst the Saints have the bye in round six, before matches against last season’s grand finalists leading into the halfway mark of the season.
One-way traffic
MURRABIT bounced back from a round four loss to Ultima, putting together a four-quarter effort to defeat Macorna by 121 points.
Former coach, Nathan Henry (five goals), Justin McConnell (five goals) and new coach, Hugh Foott (three goals) matched Macorna’s total goals for the game – which all came after the nine-minute mark of the third quarter.
Eight goals in the opening term gave the defending premiers a 50-point lead, which increase to 88 points at the main break.
The hosts had 15 goals on the board before Jessi Lampi cut off a Josh Bray handball to give the Tigers their first goal of the match.
The lead was 107 points at the final change of ends, with the Blues kicking three of the last four goals of the match.
Tom Holdstock, Bryden Morison and McConnell were best on ground for the victors, with Ricki Waters, Lachlan Allison and Lampi standing out for the Tigers.
Murrabit will travel to take on Nullawil – which had the bye at the weekend – on May 20, with Macorna to host Ultima.
Two-man show
JACKSON Ferguson (seven goals) and Taylor Williamson (five goals) united to help Hay defeat Wakool by 139 points at the weekend.
The result was secured by quarter time, with the visitors leading by 50 points.
Eight goals to one behind in the second term increased Hay’s advantage to 101 points, but the hosts were able to stem the flow of goals after half time.
Ferguson’s efforts increased his 2017 goalkicking tally to 24 – seven more than Murrabit spearhead, Nathan Henry – with the win moving the Lions to second on the ladder.
Joe Thompson kicked two of the Hawks’ four goals, with the loss Wakool’s fourth 100-plus point defeat this year.
Simon Bunyan, Angus McSweyn and Bill Auldist were best on ground for Hay, with Thompson, Dylan Friedberger and Lincoln Green playing well for the Hawks.
Hay will host Moulamein on May 20, with Wakool travelling to Wandella.
