UGSFL 2023: Wanderers jump to top spot after crushing win against Wagin on Pink for Piper day

Katanning Wanderers’ dominant 95-point win 18.18 (126) to 4.7 (31) over Wagin pushed them to the top of the Upper Great Southern Football League ladder after four rounds.

The game was played at Quartermaine Oval as part of Pink for Piper Day, an initiative that supports the Collard and Wolfe families fundraising for a cure for neuroblastoma.

In a rampant forward display, the Tigers had 10 different goal scorers with Caleb Keley bagging five and Kade Stewart slotting three, while a frugal defence led by 100-gamer Ryan Pontillo and Liam Hansen kept Wagin to a single goal in each quarter.

The home side were most effective with the breeze in their favour in the first and third quarters with 13 of their 18 goals coming in those periods.

The Tigers began strongly with the league’s leading goal scorer Laurence Collard marking strongly on a lead and kicking accurately from 30m.

Siblings Tyrone and William Roe kicked clever goals on the run before Stewart slammed one home from long distance and Keley had one in the goal square.

The Bulldogs only goal came from a strong mark and accurate kick from Taaj Furniss late in the quarter to help cut the deficit to 29 before the first break.

The second quarter was a much tighter affair as the Bulldogs won more of the ball but spoiled good play with poor disposals in midfield that were intercepted by Pontillo and Hansen.

Collard added his second major with a clever snap and Keley had another from a strong pack mark in the square while Ben Stubbs kicked the Bulldogs’ only goal on the run.

Late in the quarter Collard went down with what appeared to be a concussion and he was unable to return to the game.

With Collard’s absence, Keley moved to full-forward and it had a big effect with him kicking three goals for the quarter, displaying his skills in the air and on the ground.

Hansen was able to drift down from defence unchecked and he joined the party, snagging a long-range goal.

Caleb Quartermaine kicked two of his own, one from a classy dummy in the left forward pocket.

The highlight of the last quarter was Stewart kicking two majors and handing one off to Pontillo to kick a long goal to celebrate his 100th game in style as the Tigers ran out emphatic winners.

Katanning has the bye this weekend in round five with both Boddington and Wickepin having the opportunity to move a game clear if they record wins.