OFA 2023: Newdegate finish second after final round win to celebrate Ian Lloyd’s 300th game in style

Newdegate clinched second spot and a finals double chance after an impressive display against Boxwood Hill in the last round of the Ongerup Football Association on Saturday. Three teams could have finished second heading into round 15 but it was the Lions that set up a second semifinal showdown with Lake Grace-Pingrup. The Lions kicked eight goals to two in a dominant opening half to set up the 56-point win at Newdegate to celebrate veteran Ian Lloyd’s 300th game in style. Lloyd ran out in his 300th league game for the Lions and kicked two majors as the home side prevailed 15.7 (97) to 6.5 (41). The margin blew out to 39 points at half-time and the Lions added five goals in the third to take complete control before Boxwood won the final term. Jacob Conti, Jarrad Offer, Dean Rintoul and Lachlan Maples were outstanding as the Lions recorded a seventh win of the season. Dylan Brooks and Arron Russell combined well in the front half, kicking four goals each, while Conti and Kane Bridger were the other multiple goal kickers. The win pushed the Lions to 28 points but their percentage of 129.16 was superior to that of Boxwood (105.49) who also finished with a win-loss record of 7-5. Aaron Davis kicked four goals in a losing affair and the visitors were best served by Brett Plane, Corey Nelson and Samuel Collins. In the other league fixture, minor premiers Lake Grace-Pingrup ended the regular season with a 10th victory. Playing at Lake Grace, the Bombers emerged 23-point winners over Gnowangerup. The home side led by eight points at quarter-time and three goals in the second pushed their advantage to 16 by the long break. A wayward Bulldogs missed a couple of key opportunities in the third and trimmed the deficit to 12 points at the last change but the Bombers kicked the only two majors of the final quarter on their way to a 10.5 (65) to 5.12 (42) result. Reuben Smith, Mitchell O’Neill, Ben Watson and Tyson Prater were the standouts for the Bombers while key forward Jackson Callope finished with three goals. Mac Crichton was the main avenue to goal for the Bulldogs with two but the reigning premiers finished fourth on the ladder and now face an elimination final.