Reigning premiers Katanning Wanderers stave off Hawks’ challenge in round one of UGSFL

Katanning Wanderers returned to the scene of the thrilling 2021 grand final win and started their premiership defence with a hard-fought 18-point win over Narrogin Hawks at Clayton Road Oval on Sunday. In warm conditions Wanderers withstood a late last quarter surge from the home side to win a very competitive game, 11.11 (77) to 9.5 (59), in the opening round of the Upper Great Southern Football League. Both sides started slowly and could only manage three goals apiece before the half-time siren. New Wanderers recruit Josh Goodwin led strongly to hit the post with his first kick and split the middle with his second. At the other end Hawks’ Malachi Bolton also had his first with an excellent snap. Both defences were on top and the ball spent a lot of the first quarter between respective half-back lines but a second Wanderers goal from Mitchell Banks had the visitors ahead at quarter-time. Codie Mills-Durack extended the Wanderers’ lead with a clever snap from 30m, however, the Hawks kicked long goals through Tom Kilpatrick and Jordan Heil, both from free kicks, as the two sides went in level at half-time. In the third quarter, Wanderers got on top kicking four goals to one as they stretched their buffer to 22 points. Banks and Goodwin added their second goals and Caleb Keley was having an increasing influence around the ground, kicking his first, while veteran forward Dionne Woods booted his first with a great snap. Jydan Lanciano kicked his first goal from long range on the run for the home side. The Wanderers dominated the early going in the final term and established a 34-point lead with Boyd Woods and Josh McMahon kicking accurately. The Hawks, however, didn’t give up as Ryan Gray kicked three and Lanciano booted a second to spark life into the game. Two majors from Boyd Woods ensured Wanderers got across the line. Wanderers had 15 players from last year’s premiership side return to go with new recruits McMahon, Goodwin and Dionne and Boyd Woods, while 2017 premiership player Banks was a welcome inclusion. Khallon Zilm, McMahon, Kyle Sinclair, Liam Hansen, Boyd Woods (three goals) and Reece Nicholson were all stand-outs for Wanderers. For the Hawks, Heil made a sparkling return to the UGSFL playing brilliantly alongside Jesse Heywood, Ryan Fleay, Declin Mumby, Cade Turner-Reid and Bradley Timms.