OFA 2024: Slow-starting Gnowangerup keep perfect record intact, Lake Grace-Pingrup win battle of the Bombers

Gnowangerup’s perfect start to the 2024 Ongerup Football Association season remains unblemished after easing past Jerramungup by 34 points at home on Saturday, while Lake Grace-Pingrup won the battle of the Bombers. Having won their previous six matches heading into the clash but having not played since May, the Bulldogs started slowly against the bottom-placed Eagles. Fresh off an almighty one-point victory last week, the Eagles pushed the hosts early, matching their three first quarter-goals with three of their own. However, the cogs began to turn for the ladder leaders who booted eight of the next 10 goals to blow the margin out to 37 points at the final change on their way to a 14.7 (91) to 8.9 (57) win. Connor Smallwood notched his third five-goal haul of the season taking his tally to 27, second to Eagles’ Caleb Keley (33). Rohan Hodgson, Harry Milne and Ethan Caldwell were all prolific for the home side and Murray Hayward (three goals) and Damien Stewart (two) were their other multiple-goal kickers. Shane Edmonds, Aaron Winters and Kym Brown competed well for the Eagles while Keley and Wade Brown booted two goals each. In the other game of the round, Lake Grace-Pingrup overcame a sluggish start against Boxwood Hill before powering to a six-goal road victory on Saturday. The hosts were the quickest out of the blocks with a three-goals-to-one first term but were held scoreless in the second as the visitors booted two goals and grappled back the lead. Lake Grace-Pingrup then emerged after half-time with the same ferocity and pounded on seven of the next nine goals to clinch a 10.13 (73) to 5.7 (37) triumph. Regan Smith (two goals), Samuel Lewis, Lewis Garard and Reece Walton played crucial roles in Lake Grace-Pingrup’s victory and spearhead Jackson Callope booted a game-high five goals. Boxwood Hill were best served by Bradley Joyce, Hayden Richter, Nicholas Bertola and Mitch Murdoch.