OFA 2024: Gnowangerup muscle their way to fifth straight victory, Lake Grace-Pingrup ease past Jerramungup

Gnowangerup have firmed as premiership fancies after overcoming a three-quarter-time deficit against reigning premiers Newdegate to notch a stellar 16-point win at home on Saturday.

After trailing by a solitary point heading into the final stanza, the Bulldogs booted three unanswered goals in the last to keep their perfect start to the 2024 Ongerup Football Association season intact.

The Lions were made to rue crucial mistakes in their forward-50, booting four behinds in the final quarter, as the Bulldogs registered a 10.6 (66) to 6.14 (50) win.

The hosts led by as much as 20 points at the main break before the resurgent visitors hit back in the premiership quarter booting three straight majors to wrangle back the advantage.

James Dewar, Finn Synnot and Jacob Crowe were all pivotal for the Bulldogs, while Lewis Davis (three goals) and Tyler Caldwell (two) were their main avenues to goal.

Christopher Wollaston (one goal), Lachlan Maples, Durak Tucker and Emilio Shambrook fought hard for the Lions in a tough away loss.

In the other league game, a travelling Lake Grace-Pingrup thumped Jerramungup on Saturday courtesy of a nine-goal-to-four second half.

The Bombers struggled to make the most of their front-half dominance in their 15.20 (110) to 7.9 (51) win, but did enough to ensure they walked away 59-point victors.

They led by 27 points at the main change but perhaps should have been even further in front after booting only six goals from their 18 scoring shots in the first half.

Harris Regan was prolific in the forward 50 for the visitors with five majors, while Jackson Callope’s sensational season continued after booting four.

Regan Smith (one goal), Mitchell Thornton and Mitchell Smith were all superb for the Bombers and Brady Carruthers was their other multiple goal-kicker with three.

Aaron Winters, Wade Brown (one goal) and Alex Baum were solid contributors for the Eagles and Caleb Keley finished with a bag of four.