THE Wandella Bombers soared to a crucial win against Hay in Saturday’s 14th round in Golden Rivers senior footy.
Wandella was desperate to take the points against the ladder-leading Lions to stay in the race for finals.
The Justin Robinson-coached Wandella defied from as it inflicted what would be just a second defeat for Hay this season.
The Bombers led 19-17 at quarter-time and it was 38-all by the long break.
Wandella then won the third term, 21-14.
In the last quarter the Lions scored 2.3, but Wandella’s tally of 2.2 was enough to seal a 73-67 victory.
Gregor Knight led Wandella’s attack on four goals as Mitch Collins and Logan Keighran added two each.
Hay’s leading goalkickers were Joel Crocker on three, and Dylan Collis and Jack Headon with two.
Best for Wandella were Darcy Ramage, Seth Hall, Justin Robinson, Archer Lancaster, Adam Ward and Oliver Macartney.
The victory meant Wandella is locked on 24 points with the fourth-placed Murrabit.
The Bombers and Blues are separated by less than three per cent rolling into the last round of the home-and-away series.
Best for Hay were Simon Bunyan, Jack Cattanach, Dylan Collis, Jack Headon, Brad Pocock and Tom McGufficke.
The Lions are jointly coached by Jason Aylett and James Moran.
Another big match on Saturday was at Moulamein where the Swans took on Murrabit.
A 55-point win by Moulamein secured a finals berth.
Quarter won went Murrabit’s way, 15-11.
By half-time Moulamein had fought back to lead 35-28.
The Swans did plenty of attacking in the third quarter.
As the Swans added 3.7 they kept the Blues to a tally of 1.1.
A 25-point buffer for the Swans going into the last was 55 by the siren as Moulamein marked a 99-44 victory.
Heath Moloney kicked a match-high four goals for the Swans as Trae Atkinson, Blake Launer and Adam Saunders added two each.
Leading goalkicker for Murrabit was Adam Thomson with two.
Best for Moulamein were Jayden Haeusler, George Austin, Trae Atkinson, Heath Moloney, Josh Wills and Kaleb Richards.
The Swans are jointly coached by Brodie Tonkin and Hayden Dalitz.
Best for the Jack Shannahan-coached Murrabit were Bailey Pengelly, Bryden Morison, Jacob Wade, Riley Carse, Pras Sayakhot and Rhys Carmichael.
Ultima scored a 144-point win at home against Macorna.
As the Kangaroos kicked 23 goals they kept the Tigers to a solitary major.
Ultima led 42-1 by quarter-time and 87-2 at the main break.
The Kangas scored four goals in the third as Conner Burge goaled for Macorna.
By the final siren Ultima led 155-11.
Corey Grey capped a fine match with four goals as Ryan Devereux and Matt Taverna booted three each.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Kangaroos were Dustin Burns, Ryan Featherby and Thomas Isma with two.
Ultima’s best were Jye Purtill, Jake Foster, Lachlan Burns, Josh Dwyer, Ricky Wild and Thomas Bull.
The Kangaroos are jointly coached by Mitch Seton-Stewart and Kyle Symons.
Macorna’s best were Tori Ferguson, Llewellyn Kane, Harley Somerville, Blake Forster, Conner Burge and Lachlan Thompson.
The Tigers are coached by Paul Longstaff and Shaun Haffenden.
Golden Rivers senior footy ladder:
Hay 194 per cent, 48 points; Ultima 162, 40; Moulamein 89, 28; Murrabit 86, 24; Wandella 83, 24; Macorna 46, 4.
The 15th and final round in the home-and-away series will be played next Saturday from 2.25pm.
It’s a big clash in the Wandella hangar where the Bombers take on Moulamein.
Another big match will be at Murrabit where the Blues take on Ultima’s Kangaroos.
It’s the showdown of the Big Cats as the Macorna Tigers tackle Hay Lions at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
Leading goalkickers:
58 Jack Headon, Hay.
43 Adam Thomson, Murrabit.
41 Declan Watson, Hay.
37 Corey Grey, Ultima.
27 Ryan Devereux, Ultima.
24 Adam Saunders, Moulamein.
21 Brett Kennedy, Moulamein.
19 Josh Dwyer, Ultima.
17 Dylan Collis, Hay.
17 Josh Walters, Macorna.
16 Dustin Burns, Ultima.
16 Luke Gray, Macorna.
15 James Stewart, Murrabit.
15 Matt Taverna, Ultima.
14 Thomas Isma, Ultima.
14 Blake Launer, Moulamein.
13 Jack Cattanach, Hay.
13 Mitch Collins, Wandella.
13 Justin Robinson, Wandella.
12 Trae Atkinson, Moulamein.
12 Logan Keighran, Wandella.
12 Kaine O’Connell, Wandella.
12 Mitch Seton-Stewart, Ultima.
12 Morgan Turvey, Moulamein.
12 Jacob Watson, Hay.
11 Conner Burge, Macorna.