UGSFL 2024: Wagin end losing streak and close gap on top three with two-point win over Brookton-Pingelly

A resilient Wagin is now one of three Upper Great Southern Football League teams locked on 12 premiership points after holding off a fast-finishing Brookton-Pingelly on Saturday. The Bulldogs’ thrilling two-point victory in Pingelly was their third of the campaign and snapped a three-game losing streak, closing the gap on third-placed Wickepin, who are ahead on percentage. Trailing the hosts by four points at the main break, the Bulldogs put together a stunningly dead-eye third quarter effort, booting five goals straight to the Panthers two goals to take a 12-point lead into the last stanza. The Panthers fired back in the last with three majors, but a final quarter dagger from the visitors sealed the 9.9 (63) to 9.7 (61) road victory. Thomas Fleay, Tom Keightley, Bronson Harry (three goals), Jayden Crawford, Alfred Finlayson and Cooper Schulzed starred in the clutch win and John Lee chipped in with two majors. Joshua Hughes, Daniel Trevaskis, Kynan Collard, Brayden Fairhead, Jack Walsh and Cade Bolton were vital for the Panthers, while Craig Farmer and Malachi Bolton were their only multiple goal-kickers with two each. Boddington showed zero signs of slowing down after the general bye, storming to a 47-point victory over the Warriors on Saturday, led by a seven-goal haul from star forward Lloyd Padwick. Without fellow spearhead Maxx Della Franca, Padwick effortlessly picked up the slack with his fourth consecutive bag of six or more goals, taking his tally to 36 for the season — 13 ahead of his fellow forward in second. After trailing by three points at quarter time, the Eagles booted 11 of the next 16 goals, powering to the 18.16 (124) to 11.11 (77) win at home. Luke Kirk partnered Padwick superbly with four goals and Riley Smith added three. Blake Reynolds, Ben Sherry, Matt Giumelli, Kiattisak Deechaiyaphum and Campbell Spalding were all crucial in the victory. Sam Fortini, Ryan Melvin (one goal), Jordan Flavel (one), Regan Wilson, Billy Clay (one) and Andrew Harris (one) were all sound contributors for the visitors. A classy Narrogin led at every change on their way to a 27-point victory over Kukerin-Dumbleyung on Sunday, notching their third win of the season and joining the Warriors and Bulldogs on 12 premiership points. The Hawks did most of their damage at Nenke Oval in a blistering first half, booting eight goals to the Cougars’ four to set up a 129 (81) to 8.6 (54) triumph. Noah Criddle-White was instrumental for the Bulldogs in the front half with three majors, while Jordan Heil, Tom Kilpatrick and Langford Williams were their other main goalscorers with two each. Kilpatrick, Bradley Timms, Damon Penny, Noah Bowen-Zoccoli, William Graham and Henry Gould were all prolific in the visitors’ victory. Jye Depane (three goals) was damaging for the Cougars and was buoyed by the efforts of Toby Perrin, Justin Joyce, Peter Joyce, Byron Blevin, Stockton Cruz Shotter and Charlie Keast all game. Williams were the biggest winners at the weekend, handing their 2023 grand final superiors Katanning Wanderers an unrelenting 144-point defeat at home on Sunday. The Cats dished out the pain in every quarter, converting at least five goals in each term in their dominant 25.21 (171) to 4.3 (27) win. Michael Cowcher led from the front with a game-high six goals while Jonty Petchell kicked five. Cam Stedman, Kyle Shanahan, Simon Panizza and Jake Thompson all played key roles in the rout. James Laurino (one goal), Reece Nicholson, Thomas Hamon (one), Caleb Gill, Bodean Morton and Joshua Pinney fought hard on a trying day for the Tigers.