UGSFL 2025: Late goal hands Tigers first win since 2023, Hawks overpower Cats and Warriors flex muscles

Katanning Wanderers broke a 15-game losing streak, notching their first win of the 2025 Upper Great Southern Football League competition on Sunday in dramatic fashion. The Tigers travelled to Nenke Oval to do battle with Kukerin-Dumbleyung and had to come from behind in the dying stages to break the drought. The Cougars had a sluggish start and trailed by five points at quarter time and six points at half-time. That margin was reduced to two points at the last change and the home side hit the front late in the final term but the Tigers would not go away. Corey Eades, who had provided real spark in the front half, bobbed up to kick his third goal in the dying stages to hand the Tigers a thrilling three-point win. It was the club’s first league win since their 2023 grand final triumph, having gone throughout the entire 2024 season without a win and losing their season opener to Brookton-Pingelly last week. Eades and the returning Joshua McMahon each booted three goals for the visitors in the 9.9 (63) to 8.12 (60) win. Skipper James Laurino was again outstanding through the middle of the ground, Chace Campbell and Devan Mills-Durack were solid performers and Caleb Keley was a real presence in the air. The Cougars were left to rue a slow start and some poor skill execution forward of centre, as they lost their second game of the season. Victorian ball winner Will Liston was very busy, athletic tall Liam Park (two goals) and player-coach Jye Depane were all influential. Sheldon Taylor, Josh Harrison and Jonty Robinson were also among the home side’s best players. Narrogin recorded their first win of the new campaign, thumping Williams by 50 points in Williams on Sunday. Former Scarborough player Will Wiggett was a dominant force in his first game for the Hawks, booting six goals. Gregor Taylor was also impressive as the Hawks kicked seven goals in the first half to take the game away from the home side. Byron Blevin, Brad Timms, Damon Penny and Jordan Heil worked hard as the Hawks prevailed 12.10 (82) to 4.8 (32). The Cats were best served by Simon Panizza, Kyle Shanahan, Riley Ford, Noah Logie, Jonty Petchell and Nick Panizza but they didn’t have a multiple goalkicker. Wickepin were emphatic winners at home, smashing Wagin by 74 points on Sunday. Boom recruit Kayle Kirby feasted on the Bulldogs with eight goals while fellow off-season inclusions Dion Anthony and David Roche chipped in with three majors each. The Warriors kicked five goals to one in the first term and in a clinical third quarter piled on eight unanswered goals on their way to a big victory, 19.9 (123) to 7.6 (48). Ben Hankinson, Miles Franklin, Kirby, Kailen Leahy, Roche and Jordan Flavel led the way for the Warriors. The Bulldogs best players were Nick Menegola, Nicholas Mcmahon, Max Mumme, Cooper Schulz and Liam Robinson (two goals). In the other round two fixture, Boddington made it back-to-back wins after beating Brookton-Pingelly on Saturday. There was no Lloyd Padwick or Mitchell Dobson for the Eagles in the trip to Brookton, but they ran out 51-point winners after holding the Panthers to just six goals for the game. Dylan Kirk, Zak Pretty, Jarrod Salmeri, Harry Cabalzar, Blake Reynolds and Jordan Hughes played key roles and Luke Kirk was the main avenue to goal with three majors for the Eagles. For the Panthers Jacob Sounness, Liam Beacom, Kynan Collard, Jayden Woods, Ben Dalton and Ryley Conlan toiled hard in the 6.4 (40) to 13.13 (91) loss.

UGSFL 2025: Late goal hands Tigers first win since 2023, Hawks overpower Cats and Warriors flex muscles

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