Division two glory for Ongerup Football Association at Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships

Ongerup Football Association capped a perfect Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships by claiming a terrific 16-point grand final victory in division two at the WACA on Sunday. Up against Central Midlands Coastal Football League in the decider, Ongerup led at every change but had to withstand a mountain of pressure from their opponents in the last half to secure title glory. It was Ongerup’s first division two title since 2011 and capped an unbeaten championships after winning all four of their qualifying matches on Friday and Saturday. Two goals from spearhead Lewis Davis gave Ongerup a slender seven-point lead after Central Midlands Coastal kicked the first goal of the decider. The two sides traded goals in the second but two wonderful snaps from Arron Russell and a crumbing major from Nelson Kent pushed Ongerup’s advantage to 13 points. Ongerup booted the first three goas of the third and it appeared they were running away with the contest, as Russell took his tally to four and Davis added a third. When Russell snapped his fourth major the margin was 29 points but Central Midlands Coastal stormed back into the game as they willed the ball forward and kicked the next three goals. Cody Juhas capitilised on a defensive blunder, Lachie Glasfurd then found the big sticks and Bill Jones converted from close range to pull the deficit back to 10 points by three quarter time. Ongerup rose to the occasion in the final term however, Russell kicking a fifth when he was left all alone in the goal square to make the lead 15 points. Davis made it even harder when he jailed his fourth and despite a late major from Juhas it was Ongerup who prevailed 10.7 (67) to 7.9 (51). Star midfielder Fraser House was named best on ground in the grand final win, Russell was outstanding with five goals and Davis attracted plenty of attention but added four. Key defender Dean Rintoul was rock solid across the four quarters while Ethan Caldwell made plenty of intercepts in the back half. Veteran ball winner Luke Bairstow worked tirelessly while half forward Jack Carruthers was lively, setting up a number of goals before he was helped from the ground after a heavy hit.