-By Nathan Dole
BOORT stunned Sea Lake Nandaly as Birchip-Wathem’s hot run kept rolling in Saturday’s fourth round of senior footy in the Goldacres North Central league.
The Magpies were on home turf at Boort Park against the Tigers.
After being kept scoreless in the first term, Boort turned an eight-point deficit into a five-point lead after it scored 4.3 and held the yellow and black to 2.2 in the second.
Inspired by the play of Keiren Wilson, Ryan McGhie and Matt Austin it was Boort which kicked away to a 19-point lead by the end of the third term.
The Magpies scored five straight goals in the vital term as SLN was held to a score of 2.4.
Sea Lake Nandaly struck back to win the fourth quarter, 24-17, but it was Boort which celebrated a 70-62 victory against the premier of the past two seasons.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly had another outstanding game for Boort as he finished with four goals and Ethan Coleman booted two.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Thomas Cox with three goals as Max Cahoon and Josh Jenkins kicked two.
Best for the Dale Cameron-coached Boort included Jayden Dick, Tom Potter and Kieren Jaksic.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s best were Thomas Cox, Trent and Wade Donnan, Jackson McMahon, Jack Poulton and Max Cahoon.
The Tigers are again jointly coached by Bryce Delmenico and Billy McInnes.
It was a two-point thriller at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval where Birchip-Watchem fought on for an 89-87 win against Calder United.
The Bulls led 24-16 at quarter-time and 50-48 by half-time.
Calder United hit the front early in the third when Mitch Farmer was on target.
The Ash Connick-coached Bulls struck back with goals by Meyrick Buchanan, Jack Lee and Rhona Conboy to lead 68-56 in the 15th minute.
A Rylee Smith goal put the Lions within five points by three quarter-time.
Calder United was back in front in the 28th second of the last term when Steven Kennedy was on target.
Another goal by Kobe Lloyd gave the Lions a one-goal buffer.
The classy Nicholas Rippon drew scores level on 75-all before Kobe Lloyd replied for Calder to lead 81-75 in the ninth minute.
Meyrick Buchanan goaled for the Bulls, but Calder replied off the boot of Jack Marlais.
A goal for the Bulls in the 27th minute clinched an 89-87 victory.
The Bulls’ attack was led by Nicholas Rippon with four goals as Rhona Conboy, Tom Gibson and Joseph Reid kicked two each.
Calder United’s leading goalkickers were co-coach Jordan Humphreys and Kobe Lloyd on three each.
Best for Birchip-Watchem were Meyrick Buchanan, Nicholas Rippon, Dale Hinkley, Rhona Conboy and Hamish Hosking.
Zane Keighran, Jordan Humphreys, Rylee Smith, Daniel Watts, Josh Walsh and Dean Putt were best for a Lions’ team which has Darryl Wilson as non-playing co-coach.
St Arnaud celebrated a long-awaited victory and claimed the Chris “Pa” Wall Memorial trophy when it played Donald at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park.
The Scott Driscoll-coached Saints led 30-6 at quarter-time and then scored 3.3 as Donald added 2.1 in the second term.
Quarter three was to be St Arnaud’s best of the season as it dominated on-ball and midfield duels.
The Saints’ forwards capitalised on the dominance to score 5.6 as the Royal Blues were held to a tally of 1.1.
St Arnaud won the final term, 29-21, on the way to a 116-47 victory.
Jay Kirwood kicked five goals in a best on ground performance for St Arnaud.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Saints were Scott Driscoll with three as Sean Holroyd and Sam Male chipped in with two each.
Donald’s attack was led by Robert Walker on three goals.
Best for St Arnaud were Jay Kirwood, Zac Phillips, Sean Holroyd, Mitch Egan, Scott Driscoll and Jackson Needs.
Donald coach Daniel Pearce was best along with Luca Rice, Dyson Bell-Warren, Kalon Green, Robert Walker and Callum Vandendriest.
At Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park it was the Redbacks who marked a 110-point win against Charlton.
The Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn led 34-13 at half-time and then slammed on 8.4 as it kept the Navies to a goal in the third quarter.
Wedderburn’s intensity did not let up as the red and black kicked another eight goals in the last term.
Oscar Holt led the Redbacks’ attack on four goals as Darcy Jackson kicked three and Noah Furlong, Joe Lockhart, Jackson McEwen and Mackenzie Smith chipped in with two majors.
Charlton’s goalkickers were Mason Heeenan on two, Ben Lanyon and Seb Zagame.
Best for Wedderburn were Hamish Lockhart, Jackson McEwen, Zach Pallpratt, Mitch McEwen, Mark Robinson and Darcy Jackson.
Ben Lanyon, Elliott Fitzpatrick, Jed Thompson, Ben Xiriha, coach Mitch Collins and Mason Heenan played well for the Charlton.
It’s next Saturday’s fifth round it’s third against first as Calder United Lions take on Boort at Wycheproof from 2.30pm.
Birchip-Watchem and Wedderburn clash in the Bulls’ pen at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers will be snarling when they take on St Arnaud at Sea Lake Oval.
Donald and Charlton meet on the Royal Blues’ ground at Donald Recreation Reserve.
Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Boort 380 per cent, 16 points; Birchip-Watchem 300, 16; Calder United Lions 158, 8; Wedderburn 155, 8; Sea Lake Nandaly 122, 8; St Arnaud 74, 4; Charlton 19, 4; Donald 14, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
32 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
28 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
16 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
16 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
13 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
12 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
10 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
9 Carlos Egan, Boort.
8 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
6 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
6 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
6 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
6 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly.
6 Jay Kirwood, St Arnaud.
6 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
6 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
6 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly.
5 Brent Arho, Donald.
5 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly.
5 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
5 James Keeble, Boort.
5 Kobe Lloyd, Calder United Lions.