UGSFL Round 11: Tigers close in on top two finish, Cats keep season alive and Padwick boots nine for Panthers

Katanning Wanderers all but secured second place and a finals double chance after a thrilling two-point win over Boddington in round 11 of the Upper Great Southern Football League competition at Quartermaine Oval on Sunday. The Tigers are in the box seat for a top-two finish with three rounds left in the regular season after moving a game and significant percentage clear of the third-placed Eagles with their 8.12 (60) to 8.10 (58) triumph. In a close game all day, the Tigers had the early ascendancy and led by 14 points in the first quarter but the Eagles never gave up and hit the front with minutes to go in the last quarter, only for the home side to snatch the lead back. Crucial marks were taken deep in the Tigers’ defence to thwart the visitors’ bid for victory. In perfect weather conditions the home side started strongly with forward Josh Goodwin kicking accurately after a juggled mark to give Wanderers an early lead. Veteran Laurence Collard snapped a second goal but against the flow Eagles forward Jarrod Cameron kicked the first of his five goals for the Eagles to keep them in touch. It took 14 minutes before the Eagles kicked the first goal of the second term when Cameron was left alone 30m from goal. The Tigers led by 11 points at half-time after a late major but the Eagles controlled the early play in the third quarter with Charlie Kelsall taking a strong pack mark and kicking accurately, to cut the deficit to five points, before Josh McMahon got an immediate reply at the other end. Shaun Giumelli benefited from a 50m penalty and Cameron kicked his third to put the Eagles in front for the first time but a Dionne Woods major ensured the Tigers held four-point lead at the last change. The Eagles had the momentum in the final term as Cameron kicked two quick goals and then star ball-winner Matt White had the opportunity to extend their lead but hit the post from 25m out. As the clock wound down the home side kicked the last two goals through Caleb Keley and Kerry Crosby, to snatch victory as Liam Hansen, Ryan Pontillo and Keley took vital late marks to help deny the Eagles. Hansen continued his great year in defence for the winners, Reece Nicholson worked forward and back to get many quality possessions, Codee Mills-Durack and James Laurino were industrious around the ground and Khallon Zilm rucked strongly. White provided the Eagles with quality possessions, Cameron kicked five goals in a lively display while Talan Michael and Jimi Gillespie gave great drive around the ground. Williams kept their slim finals hopes alive, coming from behind to beat Wagin by nine points in Williams. The Cats trailed by 22 points at half-time but bounced back in the second half to notch their fourth win of the season, 10.8 (68) to 8.11 (59). Simon and Nick Panizza were superb alongside Riley Cunningham, Jonty Petchell, Daniel Harley and Noah Logie. Bulldogs Hamish Jannings, Dylan Ralph, Bohan Teakle, Luke Moore, Josh Kirk and Kurtis MacLennan all toiled hard in the defeat. The Cats are six points adrift of the fourth-placed Kukerin-Dumbleyung, who lost to flag favourites Wickepin at Nenke Oval. The Warriors trailed by seven points at quarter-time but rallied to kick seven of the last 10 goals to win 10.7 (67) to 7.12 (54) and extend their unbeaten run to 11 games. Kye Barker, Callum Garcia, Jaxon Ramsay, Ryan Melvin, Cumoram Desmond and Fraser Wittwer were terrific for the visitors. The Cougars were best served by Justin Joyce, Nathan Phillips, Marshall Browne, Byron Blevin, Damon Joyce and Jordan Jackson. Elsewhere, Brookton-Pingelly led at every change and emerged as comfortable 45-point winners against Narrogin. Key forward Lloyd Padwick booted nine goals in the Panthers’ 16.6 (102) to 8.9 (57) triumph.