UGSFL 2023: Hawks overcome inaccuracy woes to win third straight colts grand final after beating Bulldogs

Narrogin claim a three-peat of colts premierships in the Upper Great Southern Football League after they defeated Wagin at Matera on Sunday. Trailing by two points at three-quarter time, the Hawks overcame the jitters in front of goal and booted three unanswered goals in the final quarter as they powered to a 20-point victory. The Bulldogs won the toss and elected to kick with the breeze in the first quarter, but failed to capitalise on the wind advantage. The Hawks booted 2.3 in the opening term and went into the quarter-time huddle leading by seven points. The tides shifted in the second with the Bulldogs booting one goal for the quarter and while holding their opposition goalless. The Hawks were wasteful in front of goal and only managed to add four behinds to their quarter-time score and their lead was cut to just three points. The Bulldogs added two more goals in the third to snatch a two-point lead heading into the final stanza but it was the Hawks who had all the answers in the fourth term as they recorded a 6.15 (51) to 4.7 (31) grand final win. Hawks’ Tyler Rowe (two goals) was judged best afield to claim the Barry Butterworth Medal. Noah Bowen-Zoccoli (one), Kacey Beard, Maximus Skerritt, Jack Warburton and Zachariah Jerome Bolton-Ford were pivotal for the winners. Kayel Cameron, Logan Rowe and Zachary Rowe were the other goal kickers for the Hawks. Jaemeson Davidson, Liam Robinson, Carter English, Alfred Finlayson (one) and Deizel Barlow toiled hard for the Bulldogs all game. Jack Holt, Liam Robinson and Lucas Whitaker contributed one major each in a losing affair. The South Fremantle Football Club awards went to Beard and Davidson for their respective teams. Bulldogs pair Holt and Shaun Garlett shared the John Pillage trophy as the colts’ leading goal kickers with 39 goals each.