UGSFL 2024: Warriors front half fires to knock out Hawks in first semifinal, book league prelim final berth

After sneaking into the top four last week, Narrogin’s season came to a crashing halt in the Upper Great Southern Football League elimination final as they were thumped by Wickepin at Williams on Sunday. The Hawks made an incredible entry into the finals equation after downing second-placed Williams in their final match of the regular season to stay alive. However, they weren’t able to keep their dream run going and were handed a 67-point defeat by a punishing and polished Warriors outfit. Both teams were slow starters, lacking drive and defence, which led to Hawks big man Noah Criddle-White scoring an unguarded major to open the scores. Although the Hawks made their mark on the scoreboard first, they let the play slip from their control for the rest of the game. The Warriors showed great athleticism, constantly intercepting and out-running their opponents to keep the ball down their side of the field and took a 21-point lead into quarter-time. Despite kicking with the breeze in the second term, the Hawks were reckless with their passes and remained goalless for the quarter. The Warriors put up a strong fight against the wind, managing one major from their seven attempts, and showed no signs of slowing down after half-time, booting six goals to the Hawks’ one. The Hawks’ final burst of energy in the last quarter was uplifting, but wasn’t enough to turn the game in their favour, as they were eliminated 5.5 (35) to 15.12 (102). The Warriors’ triumph sets up a preliminary final showdown with the Cats for a spot in the decider against Boddington. Warriors’ Jaxon Ramsey booted a game-high five majors and was buoyed by fellow forwards Kyle Medcalf (four goals) and Matt Jukes (two). Sam Fortini, Ryan Melvin, Fraser Wittwer and Carter Wilson also starred for the Warriors. Declin Mumby stole the show in the Hawks’ forward-50 with a team-high three majors, and they were dealt a blow when Criddle-White received a yellow card for a crude bump in the second quarter. The Hawks were best served by midfield star Tom Kilpatrick, player-coach Jordan Heil, Damon Penny, Mumby and Jack Lambert. Earlier, in the reserves, Brookton-Pingelly won a terrific first semifinal, kicking 11 goals in a shootout with Narrogin. Katanning Wanderers kept their season alive in the thirds with a 43-point win over Boddington, and in the fourths Williams were too strong for the Panthers, winning by 36 points.