Katanning Wanderers slip from top spot as tensions boil over in loss to Williams

Williams reclaimed top spot after a tense 13-point win over Katanning in the penultimate round of the Upper Great Southern Football League season at Quartermaine Oval on Sunday. Tensions boiled over several times in the top-of-the-table clash, and Cats star Matt Priddis copped a heavy knock in a tackle in the third term but the visitors held off a fast-finishing Wanderers outfit in the final term to win 6.15 (51) to 5.8 (38). Priddis was taken from the field after being dumped in a tackle by Kade Stewart but the Cats went on to score their eighth win of the year and move back to top spot as a result of their superior percentage over the Wanderers. The Cats produced a dominant first half, keeping the home side goalless as they went into the third term 22 points up. Wanderers hit the post three times in the opening half but the Cats gained the ascendancy with majors to Simon Panizza, Addison Dew and Angus Longmire in the first quarter as their side kicked with the advantage of a gale force wind. Wanderers missed their chances in the second, kicking four behinds, and they need to quickly bridge the gap after half-time. After the loss of Priddis for the rest of the game, Wanderers kicked two goals through Khallon Zilm and Caleb Gill but the visitors hit back with goals from Dew and coach Gerald Medlen to take a 25-point lead into the final term. Callum Collard received a yellow card and tensions rose on the three quarter time siren as the two sides came together. When Wanderers returned to the ground, they clicked into gear, with Zilm dominating in the ruck and around the ground, reeling in a contender for mark of the year. With a vocal home crowd, Wanderers kicked three goals in the fourth to get it back to 13 points but the Cats held firm. In the minor grades, the Cats won by 26 points in the reserves, Wanderers’ winning form in the colts continued as they prevailed by 135 points and Wanderers also comfortably won the under-14s.