UGSFL 2024: Narrogin jump up the ladder after road win, Kukerin-Dumbleyung waste chance to upset Williams

Narrogin jumped to fourth on the Upper Great Southern Football League ladder after securing a hard-fought win over a determined Katanning Wanderers in round 11 on Sunday. Both teams were hot for goals in the first quarter but the Tigers, who have endured a tough season, led by nine points in front of their home fans at Quartermaine Oval. The Hawks hit back in the second term, booting six goals to one to open up a significant half-time buffer as power forward Noah Criddle-White started to make his presence felt. Still challenging for a finals berth, the Hawks held the home side to one goal in the last half as they coasted to a 52-point victory. Criddle-White was on fire in the front half, finishing with eight goals in the 16.9 (105) to 7.11 (53) result and well supported by midfielder star Tom Kilpatrick (three goals). Damon Penny, Henry Gould, Noah Bowen-Zoccoli, and Jydan Lanciano were also vital contributors as the Hawks soared to fourth, one game clear of the fifth-placed Kukerin-Dumbleyung. Reece Eades kicked two majors for the Tigers and teammates Thomas Hamon, James Laurino, Lachlan Saunders, Abdul Pickett and Devan Mills-Durack all played well. The Cougars missed a golden opportunity to upset Williams at Nenke Oval, as the Cats stormed home in the final term on Sunday. In a low-scoring, windy affair it was the Cougars that were on their way to a big upset at three-quarter time as they led by 21 points. However the Cats kicked with the breeze in the final term and booted four unanswered goals to snatch a memorable five-point win. The Cougars led by 10 points at half-time and kicked the only two goals of the third but went down, 8.8 (56) to 7.9 (51). Michael Cowcher finished with three vital goals for the visitors, Gerard Medlen kicked two and Nick Panizza, Kyle Shanahan, Michael Forman, Alex Donaldson, and Brett Lavender all played key roles. The home side was best served by Jonty Robinson, Sheldon Taylor, Jye Depane, Charlie Keast, Byron Blevin and Blake White. On Saturday Boddington secured their 10th win of the season, thrashing Wagin by 149 points at Matera Oval as spearhead Lloyd Padwick kicked eight goals. Padwick and Luke Kirk (six goals) did the damage for the Eagles while Harry Ellis chipped in with five as the visitors cruised to a 25.18 (168) to 3.1 (19) win. Zak Pretty, Jimi Gillespie, Blake Reynolds, Korben Halter and Ben Sherry were strong contributors across the day as they held the Bulldogs scoreless in the final term and kicked eight goals of their own. Despite their loss, Nick Menegola, Jake Putland, Zac South, Josh Kirk, Jayden Crawford, and Aaron Farmer (two goals) were solid performers for the Bulldogs. Brookton-Pingelly boosted their finals aspirations with a 17-point triumph over Wickepin in Wickepin on Saturday. The Warriors had the Panthers’ measure in the first term as they kicked five goals to one but in a game that ebbed and flowed, the Panthers finished the better. Five goals in the second and three in the last helped the Panthers come from behind to win, 12.9 (81) to 10.4 (64), the result leaving the Panthers just two games outside the top four. Malachi Bolton starred with six goals and was well supported by Ryley Conlan, Cade Bolton, Craig Farmer, Lewis Parsons and Trent Arnold. The Warriors’ best players were Ryan Melvin, Tristan Hobley, Cameron Penny (three goals), Regan Wilson, Fraser Wittwer and Ryan Duffy.