Last-minute goals boost

Goals dried up for Wagin at Matera Oval on Sunday against a Brookton-Pingelly side with a growing taste for winning.

The Panthers stormed to the top of the ladder with three unanswered final-term goals, recording a 11.9 (75) to 5.6 (36) win.

Both sides were locked in at 1.2 (8) a piece after the first quarter, but the visitors broke out to lead 6.3 (39) to 3.3 (21) at the main break.

Wagin could manage only two goals after half-time, both coming in the third term.

The Panthers also kicked only two goals in the third term, before adding another three by the final siren.

Again, Leroy Jetta led on the scoreboard for Brookton-Pingelly with three goals.

Dylan Kirk and James Spark kicked two each for the Panthers, as Brayden Fairhead (one goal), Callan Eddy (one goal) and Kirk were named their best player.

For the Bulldogs, Nathan Spooner (one goal), Jai Jeffery and Michael Zoiti put on strong displays.

Cats prevail in dour clash

With Williams’ scrappy 35-point win over Katanning and wins to Boddington, Brookton-Pingelly and Kukerin, a gap has emerged in the 2019 UGSFL Premiership table.

After four rounds, the four sides — Brookton Pingelly, Boddington, Williams and Wickepin — sit two games clear of the bottom four sides.

Williams, after an even first half, kicked away to add seven goals to one in the second half, recording a 10.7 (67) to 4.8 (32) win. Katanning Wanderers, the trendsetter in the past two seasons, now sit in sixth place on the premiership table.

The game started in sunny autumn weather conditions but both sides played poorly, with the defences on top.

Katanning did not help their cause, often with no one forward of the centre line to kick to when trying to transition into attack.

At quarter-time the scoreline looked more like a Perth Glory game, with Williams leading four points to Katanning’s no score.

The second quarter started brightly with Katanning’s coach Ryan Flugge giving the Tigers the lead with an opportunist goal from the square. Both sides traded goals. Simon Panizza’s and Ryan Hobbs’ goals for the Cats were matched by goals to Josh Pinney and Josh Newman for Katanning.

A late goal to James Medlen gave Williams a three-point lead 3.5 (23) to 3.2 (20) at half-time.

The third quarter began with Williams showing more poise in their ball movement with Jon Price, Brad Kain and Edward Aitken providing opportunities for James Medlen and Nick Panizza.

Ryan Pontillo’s raking left foot gave Katanning their fourth goal but inaccurate kicking left them with one goal from five scoring efforts.

Williams led 7.5 (47) to 4.6 (30) at three-quarter-time.

It was still anyone’s game in the last quarter but Katanning couldn’t find a target in their forward line and despite the efforts of Mitch Banks and Troy Flugge, deep in defence. Williams kicked away with three goals to Hobbs.

In a game where neither side would have been particularly pleased with their performance and where the defences of both sides was on top, Aitken, Robert Rose, Ryan Pearce, Simon and Nick Panizza and James Medlen stood out for Williams.

Banks, James Laurino, Charlie Tonkin, Corey Eades and Newman were strong contributors for Katanning.