-By Nathan Dole
THE Birchip-Watchem Bulls charged to a 10-point win against Sea Lake Nandaly in Saturday’s rematch of the ’24 senior footy grand finalists in the Goldacres North Central league.
A top contest between the Tigers and Bulls was played at Sea Lake Oval.
The yellow and black dominated most of the first term and led 26-14 by quarter-time.
In the second it was Birchip-Watchem which seized control.
As the Bulls added 4.3 they kept the Tigers to a tally of two goals.
The Ash Connick-coached Bulls led 41-38 at half-time and 62-52 at a quarter to play.
Both teams scored 3.2 in the last as Birchip-Watchem marked a hard-fought 82-72 victory.
Gun goalkicker Ben Edwards led the Bulls’ attack on four goals as captain Dale Hinkley and vice-captain Joseph Reid kicked two majors.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Max Cahoon, Thomas Cox and co-coach Bryce Delmenico on two goals.
Ruckman Hamish Hosking was best afield as Ben Lakin, Nicholas Rippon, Dale Hinkley, Meyrick Buchanan and Daniel Bell also starred for the Bulls.
Jack Poulton, co-coach Billy McInnes, Thomas Cox, Wade Donnan, Adam Pattison and Joel Donnan were best for the reigning premier.
The round kicked off Anzac Day when Charlton and St Arnaud played under the Charlton Park lights.
Wet conditions meant it was a tough night for all players.
The Saints led 12-8 at quarter-time, but the Mitch Collins-coached Charlton hit back to lead 18-13 by the long break.
St Arnaud added 2.2 as it kept Charlton scoreless in the third.
Inspired by the play of Sam Woods, Thomas Finlay, Mitch Collins and Ben Xiriha, Charlton’s team dominated most of the final quarter.
As the Navies added 4.2 they held the Saints to a tally of 1.2.
Charlton’s players and supporters celebrated a long-awaited 44-35 victory.
Seb Zagame led the Navies’ attack on three goals.
There were five individual goalkickers for the Saints.
Charlton’s best included Archer Patterson and Bailey Kemp.
Matthew Goode, Jay Kirwood, Harley Durward, Zac Phillips, Torin Petrie and Mitch Egan played well for the Scott Driscoll-coached St Arnaud.
On Saturday, Calder United Lions marked their first match at Wycheproof by scoring a 14-point win against Wedderburn.
The Lions led 15-3 at quarter-time and 36-12 by half-time.
Best quarter of the contest was the third as the Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn scored 5.2 and the Lions added 3.3.
Although the Redbacks won the final term, 25-20, it was Calder United which had driven its way to a 77-63 victory.
Jack Exell led the Lions’ attack on three goals as Darcy Munro kicked two.
Wedderburn’s leading goalkickers were Danny Benaim and Jye Mortlock on two each.
Best for a Calder United team coached by Darryl Wilson, non-playing, and Jordan Humphreys, playing, were Matt Wade, Oscar Madden, Zane Keighran, Zac Caccaviello, Steven Kennedy and Rylee Smith.
Wedderburn’s best were Jake Pallpratt, Jackson McEwen, Corey Lowry, Hamish Lockhart, Jye Mortlock and Noah Furlong.
Boort capped its trek to Donald on Saturday by scoring a 167-point victory.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly kicked 10 goals in a best on ground performance as Kayne Rutley and Carlos Evan added five and four majors in a 189-22 result.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Magpies were Peter Barbopoulos, three; Ethan Coleman and Tom Potter, two.
Donald’s goalkickers were Ben and Brent Arho, and Robert Walker.
Best for the Dale Cameron-coached Boort were Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Jayden Dick, James Wilson, Matt Austin, Kayne Rutley and Jarrod Fitzpatrick.
Ryan Bath, coach Daniel Pearce, Eddie Landwehr, Robert Walker, Jett Adams and Charlie Campbell were Donald’s best.
It’s second against third as Birchip-Watchem faces Calder United Lions in next Saturday’s fourth round match starting at 2.30pm at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Boort tackles Sea Lake Nandaly at Boort Park.
St Arnaud and Donald will be striving to mark their first victory of the season when they meet on the Saints’ turf at Lord Nelson Park.
There’s added incentive for the Saints and Royal Blues in the Chris “Pa” Wall Memorial match.
Wedderburn and Charlton clash in the Redbacks’ web at Donaldson Park.
Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Boort 560 per cent, 12 points; Birchip-Watchem 451, 12; Calder United 194, 8; Sea Lake Nandaly 137, 8; Wedderburn 105, 4; Charlton 19, 4; St Arnaud 44, 0; Donald 9, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
32 Ben Edwards, Birchip-Watchem.
24 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Boort.
16 Kayne Rutley, Boort.
14 Joseph Reid, Birchip-Watchem.
13 Mitch Jensen, Wedderburn.
12 Jack Exell, Calder United Lions.
10 Peter Barbopoulos, Boort.
9 Nicholas Rippon, Birchip-Watchem.
8 Carlos Egan, Boort.
7 Mitch Farmer, Calder United Lions.
6 Lachy McClelland, Sea Lake Nandaly.
6 Adam Pattison, Sea Lake Nandaly.
5 Daniel Bell, Birchip-Watchem.
5 James Keeble, Boort.
5 Tyson McKenzie, Sea Lake Nandaly.
4 Brent Arho, Donald.
4 Ethan Coleman, Boort.
4 Rhona Conboy, Birchip-Watchem.
4 Max Hungerford, St Arnaud.
4 Matt Wade, Calder United Lions.
3 James Byrne, Boort.
3 Zach Caccavilello, Calder United Lions.
3 Max Cahoon, Sea Lake Nandaly.
3 Tom Potter, Boort.
3 Dean Putt, Calder United Lions.