Victory in last game of the season for Katanning Wanderers

Katanning Wanderers have broken their drought, hanging on in the dying minutes of their final-round clash with Williams in the Upper Great Southern Football League to record their first triumph of the season at Quartermaine Oval on Sunday. The Wanderers went into the round seven clash without a win in 2020 but led at every change and prevailed by three points in a thrilling finish. The home side led by 15 points heading into the last quarter before Bailey Brougham quickly extended that margin to beyond three goals early in the last term. An undermanned Cats side tried to rally in the last quarter and dominated possession having nine scoring shots to two in the last term, but they were wayward in front of goal. The Cats booted 3.6 for the final term and came hard in the final few minutes as Wanderers defended desperately in search of their first win. In the end the Wanderers clung on to a memorable result at home, 9.7 (61) to 8.10 (58). Brougham booted three goals in the win, while Khallon Zilm added two. Ryan Wintle, Ricky Marris, Mitchell Banks, Tyrone Roe and Reece Nicholson were all named in the Wanderers’ best players. The Cats suffered just their second defeat of the season but immediately turned their focus to the important second semifinal clash this weekend against Wickepin. They were best served by Lewis Schulz, Edward Aitken, Jaymi Spinner-Mainstone, Nicholas Panizza, Cameron Stedman and Riley Cunningham. The Wanderers got the jump in the first term, booting three unanswered goals before the Cats reduced the margin to two goals at the main break. Both sides kicked two goals in the third term as the Wanderers held a handy 15-point buffer going into the fourth. The season is now over for the Wanderers after winning just the one game while the Cats face the undefeated Warriors in the second semifinal on Saturday. In the minor grades, the Wanderers finished seventh and missed the finals in the reserves but both their thirds and fourths will play finals. The thirds will play Brookton-Pingelly in the second semifinal after finishing second while the fourths are in an elimination first semifinal against the Cats after ending the regular season in third spot.