THE Birchip-Watchem Bulls outran Calder United Lions in Saturday’s round nine clash in Goldacres North Central senior footy.
A rematch of the ’25 grand finalists was played at Nullawil Recreation Reserve.
Under pressure to hold its place in the top four, Birchip-Watchem responded to the challenge against the reigning premier.
The Lions led 18-15 at quarter-time and 50-40 by the long break.
The Ash Connick-coached Bulls lifted their intensity and run in the vital third quarter.
As Birchip-Watchem scored four goals it kept the Lions to a tally of two behinds.
Calder United hit back to win the last term, 19-14, but it was the Bulls who celebrated an 82-71 victory.
The Birchip-Watchem attack was led by Meyrick Buchanan on four goals as Rhona Conboy and Joseph Reid kicked two each.
Leading goalkicker for the Lions was Justin Laird on three as Mitch Farmer, Dale Pearce, Dean Putt and Rylee Smith chipped in with two goals apiece.
Best for the Bulls were Meyrick Buchanan, Mac Lewis, Dale Hinkley, Jack Lee, Harry Cook and Daniel Bell.
Calder United’s best were Rylee Smith, Daniel Watts, Matt Trzeciak, George Turner, Justin Laird and Jordan Hughes.
The Lions are jointly coached by Jordan Humphreys, playing, and Tom Bickley, non-playing.
St Arnaud kept the heat on Birchip-Watchem by scoring a 43-point victory on Donald’s ground.
The Saints led 40-24 at quarter-time and then won term two, 21-11.
A six-goal tally in the third as it kept the Royals to a score of 2.3 meant St Arnaud led by 51 points going into the final term.
Donald won the last, 20-12, as St Arnaud marked a 113-70 victory.
The Saints’ attack was led by Jay Kirwood on three goals as Mitch Egan, Sean Holroyd, Max Hungerford, Liam Loverso and Torin Petrie kicked two each.
Leading goalkicker for Donald was Blake Grant on three.
Best for the Saints were Sean Holroyd, Mitch Egan, Harrison Saunders, Jay Kirwood, Joe Maishman and Jackson Needs.
St Arnaud is jintly coached by Harley Durward and Darby Schilder.
Donald’s best were Pala Kuma, Thomas Guljas, Bill Sam, Luca Rice, Daniel Pearce and Blake Grant.
The Royals are jointly coached by Daniel Pearce and Matt Walder.
The Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers charged to a 91-point victory at home against Boort.
In a brilliant first half, Sea Lake Nandaly scored five goals in the first term and six in the second on the way to a 74-16 lead by the long break.
As the Tigers added 6.3 in the third the Andrew Rutley-coached Boort hit back with a score of 3.1.
Sea Lake Nandaly won the final quarter, 28-15, as the scoreboard read 141-50 at the siren.
A great match by Max Cahoon ended with eight goals as Cooper Allan and Judd Durie kicked three and Boyd Bailey and Billy McInnes slotted two each.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Jack Smith and Carlos Egan on three and two goals.
Best for the Tigers were co-coach Boyd Bailey, Max Cahoon, Brandon Bailey, Zac Kelly, Cooper Allan and Judd Durie.
Sea Lake Nandaly has Wade Donnan as playing co-coach.
Boort’s best were Jonathan Lanyon, Liam Bianco, Keiren Wilson, Danko Bzenic, Carlos Egan and James Byrne.
The unbeaten Wedderburn scored a 25-goal win against Charlton on the Navies’ turf at Charlton Park.
Multiple goalkickers for the Redbacks were Tom Campbell, five; Tyler Curtis, four; Oscar Holt, Darcy Jackson and Hamish Lockhart, three.
Wedderburn’s best were Tyler Curtis, Hamish Lockhart, Zach Pallpratt, coach Tom Metherell, Jayden Jones and Jackson McEwen.
Best for the Carl Thiesz-coached Charlton were Jake Lawry, Patrick Sait, Jed Thompson, Mason Heenan, Ben Lanyon and Josh Donaldson.
North Central FNL senior footy ladder:
Wedderburn 291 per cent, 36 points; Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers 237, 32; Calder United Lions 144, 20; Birchip-Watchem 123, 18; St Arnaud 98, 16; Boort 67, 12; Donald 85, 10; Charlton 14, 0.
There’s a general bye on July 4 across the North Central FNL.
Round 10 will be played on July 11 from 2.30pm.
Wedderburn takes on Birchip-Watchem in the Redbacks’ nest at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
St Arnaud will be on home turf at Lord Nelson Park against Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.
The Bunters Cup will be up for grabs as Charlton tackles Donald at Charlton Park.
Boort faces Calder United Lions at Boort Park.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
45 Max Cahoon, SLN.
38 Steven Stroobants, CUL.
31 Dale Pearce, CUL.
28 Matt Perri, W.
22 Ricardo Liparota, BW; Joseph Reid, BW.
21 Ashley Reed, D.
18 Tyler Curtis, W.
16 Max Hungerford, SA; Lachy McClelland, SLN.
15 Jay Kirwood, SA; Oscar Holt, W; Kayne Rutley, B; Rylee Smith, CUL.
14 Boyd Bailey, SLN; Torin Petrie, SA.
12 Danko Bzenic, B; Thomas Cox, SLN.