THE Birchip-Watchem Bulls stayed in the Goldacres North Central senior footy premiership race as it won Saturday’s first semi-final against Calder United Lions by 71 points.
Just as it had done a week earlier, Birchip-Watchem controlled a lot of the play on day one of the finals campaign.
This time the Bulls and Lions played in neutral territory at Sea Lake Oval.
The Ash Connick-coached Bulls raced to a 34-3 lead by quarter-time.
It was a closely-fought second term which Birchip-Watchem won, 24-20.
A Calder United team coached by Jordan Humphreys, playing, and Tom Bickley, non-playing, needed a significant lift going into the second half.
Birchip-Watchem was able to control a lot of the play.
Although the Bulls scored just two goals in the third they worked hard defensively to limit the Lions to a solitary major.
Birchip-Watchem held a 45-point lead at three quarter-time and did not let up.
Meyrick Buchanan capped off plenty of attacks with six goals to earn best-on-ground honours in a 109-38 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulls were Daniel Bell, three; Zane Connick and Joseph Madio, two.
Birchip-Watchem had Rhona Conboy, Ben Lakin and Joseph Reid chip in with a goal each.
The Lions’ goalkickers were Jordan Hughes, Jordan Humphreys, Dale Pearce, Matthew Trzeciak and Daniel Watts.
Best for Birchip-Watchem were Meyrick Buchanan, Joseph Madio, Daniel Bell, Ben Lakin, Charlie Frank and Sam Simmons.
Cody Green, Daniel Watts, Oscar Madden, Jordan Hughes, Jordan Humphreys and Dean Putt were Calder United’s best.
The Bulls will now meet Wedderburn or Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the preliminary final on September 12 at Boort Park.
The Redbacks and Tigers will contest next Saturday’s second semi-final at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
In the Haeuslers reserves competition, Wedderburn dominated the first semi-final against Calder United Lions.
The Redbacks were up 27-2 at quarter-time and 53-14 by the long break.
Closest quarter of the match was the third in which Wedderburn scored 4.2 and the Lions added 3.1.
A 46-point lead for the red and black going into the last was 65 by the siren after Wedderburn kicked 3.1 and kept the Lions scoreless.
Matthew Lockhart kicked a match-high four goals as Chris Hargreaves and Aaron Smith slotted three each in 98-33 victory.
Wedderburn also had Jacob Piccoli kick two goals as Josh Hall, Thomas Hawke and Mackenzie Smith were also on target.
Angus Forrester, Kaleb Kennedy, captain Jack Morrison, Joel Pardella and Heath Senior all kicked a goal for Calder United.
Best for Wedderburn were Thomas Hawke, Mitch Woods, Mackenzie Smith, Chris Hargreaves, Matthew Lockhart and Mark Robinson.
Brett Barker, James Ison, Heath Senior, Jack Morrison, Alex Hogan and Kaleb Kennedy were best for the Lions.
Wedderburn will meet Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers or St Arnaud in the preliminary final.
A strong first half set up a win by Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers against Donald in the preliminary final of the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s competition.
The Tigers led 19-8 at quarter-time and then scored 4.2 as Donald added two goals in the second term.
A closely-fought third quarter went SLN’s way, 18-14.
Donald won the last, 11-7, but it was Sea Lake Nandaly which marked a 70-45 victory.
Taj Borlase and Angus Renney led the Tigers’ attack on four goals each as Hamish Landry, Hugo Warne and Zander Wight were also on target.
Donald captain Jesse Lydom kicked three goals as Baxter Donnellon, Ryan Needs and Luca Rice added one each.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers were Nate McClelland, Riley Allan, Taj Borlase, Jacob Cox, Coby Wight and Oscar Conlan.
Donald’s best were Luca Rice, Baxter Donnellon, Jesse Lydom, Marty Burke and Elijah Mansibang.
The Tigers will meet Boort or St Arnaud in the preliminary final.
First match in the finals campaign was the Uniting Church under-14s match between Charlton and Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Accuracy near goal became a premium in this contest.
Charlton scored 1.6 in the first quarter as Sea Lake Nandaly slotted one major.
In the second it was the Navies who added another goal as the Tigers scored three behinds.
Both teams added three behinds in the third quarter.
Another goal for Charlton in the last sealed a 27-14 victory.
Goalkickers for the Navies were Andrei Acantilado, Josh Bartlett and Hudson McGrath.
Milton Bailey was on target for the SLN line-up.
Best for Charlton were Darcy Olive, Isaac Roberts, Andrei Acantilado, Chace Dixon, Hudson McGrath and Liam Monaghan.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s best were Jesse Cox, Brodie Barry, Max Conlan, Milton Bailey, Finn Austerberry and Jackson Halliday.
The Navies will play St Arnaud or Birchip-Watchem in the preliminary final.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: St Arnaud v Birchip-Watchem.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: Boort v St Arnaud.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v St Arnaud.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Wedderburn v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.