UGSFL 2023: Strong second half from Katanning, Wagin notch Darkan victory and Wickepin still unbeaten

A strong second half from Katanning Wanderers helped them to a second-straight win, outlasting a tenacious Narrogin by 40 points in round three of the Upper Great Southern Football League on Saturday at Narrogin. In ideal conditions that favoured fast football, the Tigers kicked nine goals to four after half-time, including eight of the last nine in a 15.10 (100) to 8.12 (60) triumph to consolidate third spot on the ladder. Key forward Laurence Collard bagged five majors, his second five-goal haul for the year, while Caleb Keley added three goals The Tigers had plenty of avenues to the big sticks as seven separate goal scorers joined the party. Intriguing contests in the midfield ensued, with Hawks’ Ryan Fleay tagging Tigers’ Kade Stewart and Hawks’ Jordan Heil going head to head with Katanning’s James Laurino — all four proving instrumental for their respective sides. The Tigers’ fitness proved a big factor as they finished full of running in the last quarter. For the Tigers, Collard led and kicked accurately, Keley was strong in the ruck and up forward, Stewart was effective with his long left-foot kicks, Laurino was also damaging around the ground alongside Reece Nicholson, and Ryan Pontillo continued his fine season in defence. For the Hawks, Michael Bradford provided a great target in the forward line to finish with three goals while Fleay, Heil, Ashton Scadding, Flynn Henare and Max Chivall also played well. Meanwhile, Wickepin remain undefeated after a thrilling three-point away win over Williams on Sunday. The Warriors’ Billy Clay, Ryan Melvin, Kyle Medcalf, Fraser Wittwer, James Valentine and Callan Sims were key factors in the 11.6 (72) to 10.9 (69) victory. The Cats, despite working their way back into the contest in the third term to push ahead by three points at the last change, were held goalless in the final quarter and could only muster three points, with the Warriors’ nine-point quarter clinching the win. The Cats’ Addison Dew, Kyle Shanahan, Riley Cunningham, Simon Panizza, Angus Longmire and Nick Panizza were terrific in a losing affair. Cumoram Desmond, Ryan Melvin, Jaxon Ramsay and Sims all finished as multiple goal kickers for the winners with two each. In the final game on Sunday, a five-goal to one second half helped Wagin to their first win of the season over Kukerin-Dumbelyung in a match played at Darkan. After trailing by seven points at half-time, the Bulldogs kicked clear to hand the Cougars a second loss of 2023. Cooper Young finished with a bag of four goals while Shawn Garlett, George Hampson, Bronson Harry, Joshua Hubbard, Liam Seale and Daniel Stubbs also found the big sticks. Former Essendon player and WAFL star Nick Kommer impressed in his first game for the Bulldogs and was joined in the best players by Thomas Fleay, Harry, Taaj Furniss, Daniel Stubbs and Joshua Hubbard as they won 10.16 (76) to 6.7 (43). The Cougars were best served by Peter Joyce, Sam Howie, Stockton Cruz Shotter, Benjamin Stewart, Sheldon Taylor and Ryan Taylor, while Dean Jamieson (three) and Lachy Ward (two) were the main avenues to goal.