UGSFL 2023: Warriors come from behind to claim crucial win over Cats, Collard boots 11 goals in Tigers romp

Wickepin strengthened their claims of securing a top two finish in the Upper Great Southern Football League, overcoming an early deficit to defeat rivals Williams on Sunday. The Cats went into quarter-time with a 26-point advantage but failed to kick a major in the second half as the Warriors snagged the last eight goals to run away convincing 13.9 (87) to 8.7 (55) winners. Jaxon Ramsay booted five goals in a match-winning display in the forward half as the Warriors moved two games clear of the Cats in second spot with two games left to play. Their 26-point lead was trimmed to 17 at half-time and from that point on the Cats were well beaten as they fell to their third defeat of the season. Ryan Melvin, Ramsay, Matt Jukes (two goals), Joshua Houwen, Brayden Fairhead and James Valentine were all terrific for the winners while Luke Crouch also kicked two goals. Addison Dew (three), Nathan Pearce (three), Angus Longmire, Nathan Pearce, Kyle Shanahan and Simon Panizza all shined in a losing side. Meanwhile, Katanning Wanderers stormed to a thumping 194-point victory over Narrogin on Sunday to shore up top spot on the ladder. The Tigers kicked 12 goals in the first quarter, six in the first six minutes of the game, to snuff out any chances of a Hawks win. Leading goal kicker Laurence Collard had five majors at the first break and finished with a sensational 11-goal haul while Haiden Schloithe bagged three in the first term and ended up with seven for the game. Jack Walsh moved into the Hawk’s forward line to give them a target, however, that did little to quell the Tigers’ rampage. The Tigers continued on with eight goals in the third quarter before piling on seven more in the final term to cruise to a 37.14 (236) to 6.6 (42) win. Schloithe and Collard had great support from Kade Stewart (three), James Laurino (three), Tyrone Roe (two) and William Roe. Keley (five) and Lachlan Saunders (four) were the other multiple goal kickers. Malachi Bolton and Jack Walsh kicked two goals apiece in a losing Hawks side. Walsh, Jordan Heil, William Graham, Kacey Beard, Ashton Scadding and Tom Munns were among the Hawks’ best players. A bag of nine goals from Coen Marwick helped Kukerin-Dumbleyung record their first win of 2023. The 52-point win against Wagin was set up by a strong seven goal to three second half as they look to avoid a wooden-spoon finish, sitting a game behind the Bulldogs who are in sixth. The Cougars were best served by Marwick, Byron Blevin, Ryan Smith, Zane Sutherland, Deklan Georgy and Blake White (two) in the 16.9 (105) to 8.5 (53) triumph. The Bulldogs had strong contributions from Bronson Harry (two), Brodie Hills, Tom Coleman, Kade Prowse, Benjamin Wardle and Thomas Fleay.