THE Birchip-Watchem Bulls moved to the fourth rung on the Goldacres North Central FNL senior footy ladder after Saturday’s round five win against St Arnaud.
As clubs took part in Emergency Services Round it was Birchip-Watchem which marked a 49-point win against the Saints in the Bulls’ pen at George Cartwright Oval in Birchip.
Accuracy was the key as the Saints scored four straight goals and the Bulls slotted 3.2 in the opening term.
In the second the Ash Connick-coached Bulls added three goals and kept the Saints to just two behinds.
Birchip-Watchem won the next two quarters, 17-nil and 21-6 on the way to an 81-32 victory.
Ricardo Liparota kicked a match-high six goals as Joseph Reid added two.
The St Arnaud attack was led by Torin Petrie on two.
Best for the Bulls were Meyrick Buchanan, Jonty Randall, Joseph Madio, Heath Smith, Ricardo Liparota and Ben Hogan.
Lucas Bridger, Joe Maishman, Lachlan O’Connell, Oliver Rogers, Nick Maishman and Mitch Egan were best for a Saints team coached by Harley Durward and Darby Schilder.
Wedderburn was too strong for Boort in the Redbacks’ nest at Donaldson Park.
The Tom Metherell-coached Wedderburn led 33-14 at quarter-time and 60-23 by the long break.
A closely-fought third term went the Redbacks way, 28-21.
Wedderburn added six goals in the last to complete a 126-53 victory.
Leading goalkickers for Wedderburn were Matt Perri, five; Mitch McEwen, four; and Tyler Curtis, three.
The Redbacks had Oscar Holt and Jye Mortlock slot two goals.
Boort’s attack was led by Lachlan Fitzgerald and Tyson Rutley on two.
Best for the Redbacks were Mitch McEwen, Zach Pallpratt, Tom Metherell, Oscar Holt, Hamish Lockhart and Tyler Curtis.
Carlos Egan, Liam Bianco, James Byrne, Danko Bzenic, Jack Smith and Alex Chamberlain were best for the Andrew Rutley-coached Magpies.
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers marked a 107-point win in their den at Sea Lake Oval against Donald.
The Tigers led 28-8 at quarter-time and then slammed on eight goals in the second to hold a 64-point buffer going into the second half.
Quarter three went the way of the yellow and black, 23-12.
An SLN team jointly coached by Boyd Bailey and Wade Donnan added six goals in the last term.
By the final siren the Tigers were up 140-33.
Max Cahoon kicked eight goals in a best afield performance as Adam Pattison added three and Boyd Bailey slotted two.
Leading goalkicker for Donald was Ashley Reed on two.
The Tigers’ best were Max Cahoon, Boyd Bailey, Billy Poulton, Wade Donnan, Billy McInnes and Connor Michael.
Pala Kuma, Bill Sam, Lachlan Sneddon, Charlie and Bronte Campbell, and Baxter Donnellon were best for a Donald team coached by Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder.
Calder United Lions ripped through Charlton’s defence on the way to a 170-point win at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
The Lions led 42-1 at quarter-time and 73-2 by the long break.
The reigning premiers scored eight goals in the third and matched that tally in the last.
Dale Pearce was in superb touch as he finished with nine goals and the classy Steven Stroobants slotted six.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Jordan Humphreys and Tom Bickley-coached Lions were Mitch Farmer and Rylee Smith on four and three.
Kris Clifford was on target for Charlton.
Best for Calder United were Justin Laird, Steven Kennedy, Jack Marlais, Dale Pearce, Zach Caccaviello and Matt Trzeciak.
Xav Tadd, Mason Heenan, Patrick Soulsby, Elliott Fitzpatrick, Declan Ryan and Sean O’Connor were best for the Carl Thiesz-coached Navies.
North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 351 per cent, 20 points; Wedderburn 278, 20; Calder United Lions 231, 16;Birchip-Watchem 112, 8; Donald 89, 8; St Arnaud 72, 8; Boort 54, 0; Charlton 8, 0.
Round six on Saturday will be highlighted by the showdown between Wedderburn and Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park from 2.30pm.
Calder United Lions tackle Donald at Wycheproof Recreation Reserve.
Birchip-Watchem faces Charlton in the Bulls’ pen at Birchip’s George Cartwright Oval.
Boort and St Arnaud clash at Boort Park.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
35 Max Cahoon, SLN.
27 Steven Stroobants, CU.
24 Matt Perri, W’burn.
22 Dale Pearce, CU.
15 Lachy McClelland, SLN; Ashley Reed, D.
14 Ricardo Liparota, BW.
11 Joseph Reid, BW.
10 Tyler Curtis, W; Kayne Rutley, B; Rylee Smith, CU.
9 Thomas Cox, SLN.
8 Oscar Holt, W; Max Hungerford, SA; Torin Petrie, SA.