OFA 2023: Boxwood Hill suffer first defeat of season as Gnowangerup prove too strong on home turf

Gnowangerup bounced back to form with a 44-point win over Boxwood Hill in round seven of the Ongerup Football Association on Saturday. The Bulldogs had lost their past two matches and slipped to fourth on the ladder but five goals to one in the second half at Gnowangerup ensured they recorded their third win of 2023. Boxwood challenged the home side in the first term but the Bulldogs had skipped out to a handy 17-point advantage by the long break. In a dominant third term the reigning premiers kicked three goals and held Boxwood to just two behinds as they closed in on victory. Boxwood booted their third goal of the game in the final term but the Bulldogs held firm as they went on to win 9.12 (66) to 3.4 (22). Damien Stewart was terrific in attack with three goals while Mac Crichton added two for the winners. Charlie Kelsall, Brandon Wise, Quillan Pritchard and James Dewar were all highly influential for the Bulldogs and co-captains Ethan Caldwell and Lewis Davis also hit the scoreboard. The Bulldogs remain in fourth place on the ladder but just one game separates the top four after seven rounds. Shane Davy, Braden Retallack and Kade Walter kicked the goals for Boxwood but they fell to their first loss of the season. In the other league fixture Newdegate overcame a strong fight from Jerramungup to win by 34 points in Jerramungup. The Eagles led by two points at the first change before the Lions hit back with three majors in the second term. The momentum shifted again in the third as three goals from the home side had them trailing by only two points going into the fourth quarter. Five unanswered goals in the final stanza sealed the Lions’ triumph, however, running out winners 12.8 (80) to 6.10 (46). Arron Russell was the key in the win with four goals while teammates Dylan Brooks, Darcy Thompson and Chris Wollaston were also multiple goal kickers. The Lions were best served by Blake Dunkeld, Riley Bridger and Jacob Conti in their third win of the season. Joshua Collard, Jayden Brooks, captain Aaron Winters, Andrew Solomon-Maere (two goals) toiled hard in a losing affair.

OFA 2023: Boxwood Hill suffer first defeat of season as Gnowangerup prove too strong on home turf

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