UGSFL 2023: Katanning celebrate 100th year centenary in style with crushing win against Wickepin

Katanning Wanderers celebrated their 100th anniversary in emphatic style with a 91-point thumping of the previously undefeated Wickepin at Quartermaine Oval on Saturday. In front of enthusiastic supporters who travelled from all over Australia to celebrate the club’s centenary, the Tigers leapfrogged the Warriors to move to top spot on the Upper Great Southern Football League ladder. The Warriors, missing several key players, were no match for a slick Tigers unit that had winners all over the ground. The Warriors begun strongly for the first five minutes but a stingy Wanderers defence led by veteran Travis Justins kept them scoreless early. The Tigers took over from that point with the midfield dominance of Tim Stewart, in the side for the first time since the 2017, causing problems for the Warriors alongside James Laurino, Kade Stewart and Tyrone and Willie Roe. The Tigers had their first after a strong mark from Tyrone Roe, who kicked accurately from 35m before the Warriors had its first through a Billy Clay set shot. The winners had many avenues to attack with five individual goal scorers including Caleb Gill, Laurence Collard and Lachlan Saunders as they led by 26 at quarter-time. The Tigers continued on their way in the second quarter with Collard kicking two from strong contested marks and a long goal from Tim Stewart and a strong mark and conversion from Kade Stewart. If not for the Warriors’ Jack O’Sullivan with a stack of marks in defence, the Tigers would have been further in front. They kept the visitors scoreless for the second quarter to push the margin to 52 points at the long break. The Warriors moved Fraser Wittwer into the forward line in the third quarter and he contributed two goals from contested marks and accurate kicks. However, miskicks into the Warriors’ forward line were mopped up by Justins, along with Liam Hansen and Josh Pinney, who were repelling attacks and sending them back the other way. With the lights on and the setting sun, the Tigers continued their slick passing game and decisive work out of the middle through Mitchell Banks to the Stewart and Roe brothers and Laurino, kicking a further six goals to start the celebrations in style with a 18.12 (120) to 4.5 (29) triumph. For the winners, Justins was outstanding in defence. Justins, Tim and Kade Stewart worked hard around the ground alongside Laurino while Saunders and Banks were outstanding in the ruck. Tim Stewart booted five goals while Collard (three goals) and Saunders (three) also chipped in. For the Warriors, O’Sullivan turned back several Tigers entries and marked strongly, Wittwer kicked three from limited opportunities, Ryan Melvin showed signs and Sam Fortini never gave up in the ruck. Jordan Flavel and Joshua Houwen were also among their better players. Meanwhile, Williams were 66-point winners over Narrogin in Williams on Sunday. The Hawks were within 24 points at the main break but a nine-goal to two second-half guided the Cats to a commanding 16.16 (112) to 6.10 (46) win at the final siren to consolidate second spot. Addison Dew, Daniel Acres, Angus Longmire (three), Matthew Dinsdale (three), Simon Panizza and Kyle Shanahan were outstanding for the winners. The Hawks were best served by Jordan Heil (two), William Graham, Cade Bolton, Tom Kilpatrick, Noah Bowen-Zoccoli and Kacey Beard.