UGSFL 2023: Tigers move clear on top after strong win over Warriors, Eagles get up in thriller & Cats too good

Katanning Wanderers surged clear on top of the Upper Great Southern Football League ladder after an impressive win over premiership rivals Wickepin on Sunday. The top-of-the-table clash was a hard and physical contest but the Tigers emerged 29-point winners in Wickepin to move a game and percentage clear on top spot with four rounds left in the season. The result was the second win this season for the Tigers against the Warriors in their three encounters so far. The visitors started strongly but led by only six points at half-time after the Warriors hit back with four majors in the second. After the long break, the Tigers stepped up a gear, kicking six goals to two on their way to a strong 12.7 (79) to 7.8 (50) victory. Played in ideal conditions the Tigers kicked with the breeze and were on the board within the first minute after a strong mark and accurate kick by resting ruckman Mitchell Banks. Warriors full-forward Luke Crouch got an immediate reply and for most of the first quarter both defences were on top, before leading goal scorer Lawrence Collard kicked two goals, one he bounced end on end from 40m out and the next from a strong lead and mark. Kade Stewart, fresh from playing with the winning WA Country side, kicked a long goal, after picking off an errant across the ground kick as his side held an 18-point buffer at quarter time. Through the work of Flynn Spark, Ryan Melvin and Billy Clay in the middle the Warriors hit back in the second. Crouch added two more to his tally while Mel Watson on his wing and Ryan Melvin kicked one each to bridge the gap but class goals from the Stewart brothers, Kade and Tim, kept the Tigers in front. The Tigers regained the ascendancy through the midfield, with Reece Nicholson playing well on his wing, Ryan Pontillo and Liam Hansen, strong in defence and centre-half forward Lachan Saunders, roaming far and wide and marking strongly. Tim Stewart kicked two great snaps and Kade Stewart launched one from outside 50m as they pushed their lead to 17 points. The Warriors had the breeze in the final term but Saunders kicked an early goal for the visitors with a clever snap. The Tigers defence again came to the fore snuffing out any hopes of Warriors comeback. Youngster Caleb Quartermaine cleverly tapped a bouncing ball to himself and dribbled a goal from 10m out and Tyrone Roe kicked one after marking strongly and despite a late consolation goal from Warriors’ Ryan Melvin the visitors claimed their 10th win of the season. Kade and Tim Stewart kicked three goals each and Collard added two while the winners were best served by Banks, Saunders at centre-half forward, defender Pontillo and Kade Stewart and James Laurino in the midfield. Midfielder Ryan Melvin led the way for the Warriors and was well supported by Fraser Wittwer and Kynan Collard in defence and Billy Clay up forward while Crouch kicked three majors. Boddington survived a scare on Saturday at Stubbs Park, prevailing by six points over a determined Kukerin-Dumbleyung side. The Eagles led by 10 points at quarter-time and held off a fast-finishing Cougars side, 9.11 (65) to 8.11 (59) as Lewis Gillespie kicked three goals for the winners. In the other round 13 fixture a five-goal haul from captain Nick Panizza was the highlight as Williams thumped Narrogin by 55 points. Simon and Nick Panizza were both terrific, combining for eight goals, while Charlie Morfesse and Cameron Smith were both busy for the Cats as they won 16.17 (113) to 9.4 (58).