-By Nathan Dole
BOORT withstood a spirited final-quarter fightback by Wedderburn to claim a five-point victory in Saturday’s seventh round of senior footy in the Goldacres North Central season.
The Magpies and Redbacks played out a thriller at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Seven straight goals in the first term meant the Dale Cameron-coached Boort led 42-25 at quarter-time.
The Magpies’ unerring accuracy rolled on as it scored 3.1 in the second as Wedderburn added 2.7.
Boort won the third, 19-6.
Faced with a five-goal deficit at the start of the last quarter, Wedderburn did not give up.
The Tom Metherell-coached Redbacks slammed on 7.2, but Boort’s score of 3.1 was enough to clinch a 99-94 victory.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly and James Keeble finished with three goals each for Boort as Jarrod Fitpatrick and Kayne Rutley added two.
Wedderburn’s attack was led by Jye Mortlock on four as Mitch Jensen and Oscar Holt chipped in with three and two majors.
Best for Boort were Carlos Egan, Matt Austin, James Keeble, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Kayne Rutley.
Hamish Lockhart, Jye Mortlock, Sam Lockhart, Jackson McEwan, Isaac Holt and Mitch McEwen were the Redbacks’ best.
It was a crucial win for Boort which retained fourth place on the ladder and is now eight points clear of the fifth-placed Wedderburn.
Margins blew out considerably in Saturday’s three other matches.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers scored 44 goals in a 286-6 victory at home against Donald.
The Tigers scored 10 goals in the first and second quarters, nine in the third, and 15 in the last.
Lachy McClelland kicked 10 goals in a best afield feat and his goals tally was matched by Max Cahoon.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Tigers were Thomas Cox, nine; Trent Donnan, Tyson McKenzie and Chase Tait, three; and co-coach Bryce Delmenico and Wade Donnan with two.
Donald’s goalkicker was Ryan Bath.
Best for the Tigers who have Billy McInnes as co-coach were Lachy McClelland, Thomas Cox, Max Cahoon, Wade and Trent Donnan, and Ryan O’Sullivan.
Donald coach Daniel Pearce was best along with Robert Walker, Ben Arho, Thomas Reekie, Kalon Green and Nic Atkins.
The Lions from Calder United tore through Charlton’s defence to record a 160-20 victory at Nullawil.
Calder United charged to a 39-7 lead at quarter-time and then scored another six majors in the second as it kept the Navies to tally of 1.1.
The Lions won the next two terms, 35-6 and 45-nil.
The in-form Jack Exell kicked nine goals to earn best-on-ground honours.
Zane Keighran, Steven Kennedy and Darcy Munro kicked three goals apiece as Daniel Watts added two majors for Calder United.
Goalkickers for Charlton were Rhys Thompson on two and Angus Johnstone.
Best for the Lions were Jack Exell, Mitch Farmer, Matt Trzeciak, Zane Keighran, Rylee Smith and George Turner.
Calder United is coached by Darryl Wilson, non-playing, and Jordan Humphreys, playing.
Bailey Hooper-Dixon, Kris Clifford, Archer Patterson, Elliott Fitzpatrick, Rhys Thompson and Mason Heenan were best for the Mitch Collins-coached Charlton.
Nine goals in the opening quarter set up another big win by Birchip-Watchem against St Arnaud at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
The Ash Connick-coached Bulls charged to a 35-point lead by the first break and were up 95-21 at half-time.
Eight goals in the third were followed by five in the last as the Bulls kept St Arnaud to tally of three behinds in the final hour.
Gun forward Ben Edwards kicked 14 goals to be best afield as Rhona Conboy booted four and Austin Dean added three in a 183-24 victory.
The Bulls had Lachy Foott and Nicholas Rippon boot two majors.
Goalkickers for the Saints were Lucas Bridger on two and Max Hungerford.
Birchip-Watchem’s best were Ben Edwards, Meyrick Buchanan, ruckman Hamish Hosking, Rhona Conboy, Austin Dean and Ben Lakin.
Zac Phillips, Owen Lowe, Luke Jackson, Bailey Durward and Max Hungerford were best for the Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud.
North Central senior footy ladder:
Birchip-Watchem 290 per cent, 28 points; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 315, 20; Calder United Lions 264, 20; Boort 152, 20; Wedderburn 146, 12; Charlton 26, 8; St Arnaud 39, 4;. Donald 12, 0.
There will be no play for North Central clubs on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
Round eight will be played on June 14 from 2.30pm.
Wedderburn will be back on its turf at Donaldson Park to play Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
Calder United Lions face Donald at Nullawil.
Birchip-Watchem tackles Charlton in the Bulls’ pen at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Boort meets St Arnaud at Boort Park in the clash of the Magpies and Saints.
Leading goalkickers:
58 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
35 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
34 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
21 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
20 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
19 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
18 Thomas Cox, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
18 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
18 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
16 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
16 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
14 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
14 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
14 Jordan Humphreys, Calder United Lions.
12 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
12 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
11 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
11 Carlos Egan, Boort.
10 Oscar Holt, Wedderburn.
10 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
10 Darcy Jackson, Wedderburn.
9 James Keeble, Boort.
9 Steven Kennedy, Calder United Lions.
8 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
8 Zane Keighran, Calder United Lions.
8 Jye Mortlock, Wedderburn.
7 Brent Arho, Donald.
7 Trent Donnan, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
7 Jarvis Keogh, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
7 Kobe Lloyd, Calder United Lions.
7 Mitch McEwen, Wedderburn.