UGSFL 2023: Narrogin celebrate first win of season after downing Wagin, Wickepin too strong on the road

Narrogin broke through for a maiden win in the 2023 Upper Great Southern Football League competition in round 10 on Saturday, outlasting a persistent Wagin outfit at Matera Oval. The Hawks, sitting bottom of the ladder after nine rounds, had failed to kick more than nine goals in a game this season but a clinical fourth quarter against the Bulldogs gave them the platform for a memorable 10.15 (75) to 8.8 (56) win. The Bulldogs were stunned early with the Hawks snagging four unanswered goals in the first period to open a 31-point lead at the first break. However, the home side hit back with three goals in the second and third quarters and the buffer was trimmed to five points at the last change. A four-goal to two effort in the final term was enough to see the Hawks over the line, dealing a severe blow to the Bulldogs’ hopes of finishing in the top four in the process. The Hawks were best served by Noah Bowen-Zoccoli, Jack Walsh, Jordan Heil, Blake Heil, Jydan Lanciano and Anton Hanson in the 19-point win. The Bulldogs had plenty of support from Alex Mancini, Thomas Fleay, Jack Manners, Jake Putland, Daniel Stubbs and Tom Coleman while player-coach George Hampson kicked four majors in a losing affair. Meanwhile, a 63-point victory to Wickepin over Kukerin-Dumbelyung helped them consolidate top spot at Nenke Oval. The Warriors were held goalless in the first term as the Cougars found the big sticks twice to skip out to a 10-point advantage. However, it was all downhill from there as the top side only conceded one major for the remaining three quarters and kicked 12 goals of their own. Spearhead Jethro Duffy finished with three goals for the winners while Joshua Houwen, James Valentine, Sam Fortini, Jaxon Ramsay, Jordan Flavel and Ryan Melvin were also influential in their eighth win of the season. Toby Brook was the only multiple goal kicker for the Cougars while Deklan Georgy, Blake White, Peter Joyce, Coen Marwick, Ryan Smith and Sam Howie also toiled hard but the home side went down 3.5 (23) to 12.14 (86).