BY NATHAN DOLE
HAY Lions capped a remarkable finals series by beating Ultima in the Golden Rivers FNL senior footy grand final on Saturday.
Although it went in as underdog against a team which had a 15-1 record in the home and away series, Hay outplayed Ultima on Murrabit’s turf.
Sole defeat for the Kangaroos in the run to the finals was a 62-83 result on Hay’s turf in the 11th round.
Chasing its first senior premiership since 1995 and fourth in the Golden Rivers, Hay’s run in this finals series kicked off by beating Macorna in the first semi.
The Lions then defeated Moulamein, last year’s runner-up, in the preliminary final.
Hay made a brilliant start to the grand final as it scored 5.1 to 3.2 in the opening term.
Ultima hit back to win the second quarter, 17-9.
A three-point buffer for the Lions at the start of the second half was 14 points at a quarter to go.
Although it was playing its third match in four weeks, Hay’s team finished full of run.
The Lions scored 3.7 to 1.4 in the last to complete an 11.15 (81) to 6.16 (52) victory.
Hay’s attack was led by Will Clark, Jensen Hargreaves and Declan Watson who kicked two goals apiece.
The Lions also had Simon Bunyan, Fergus and Jack Cattanach, Joel Crocker and Daniel Zambon chip in with a goal.
Goalkickers for Ultima were Zac Cattlin, Ryan Devereux, Jake Foster, Jacob Schaper, Mitchell Seton-Stewart and Kyle Symons.
Hay’s best were Will Clark, Daniel Zambon, Dom Booth, Kenneth Jubb, Jack Headon and Jensen Hargreaves.
Kyle Symons, Mitchell Seton-Stewart, Jayden Kiel, Thomas Bull, Martyn Cooper and Caillum Brady were Ultima’s best.
Grand final day for Ultima included the reserves and under-17s in action.
The Kangaroos won the reserves contest with Macorna by 31 points.
Ultima led 18-1 at the first break, but the Macorna Tigers fought back to win the second, 26-10.
The Kangaroos controlled plenty of the play in the final hour as they scored 3.4 to 1.2 in the third term, and won the last, 23-7.
At the final siren Ultima led 10.13 (73) to 6.6 (42).
Luke O’Toole and Braydon Ottrey kicked two goals for the Kangaroos.
Other goalkickers for Ultima were Jonty Chaproniere, Bo Delmenico, Riley Haberman, Quinn Grey and Stuart Polkinghorne.
Tristan McIntosh kicked a match-high three goals for Macorna as Melayke Comer booted two and Ryan Dee added another.
Ultima’s best were Sam Hinton, Luke O’Toole, Lachlan Edwards, Jordan King, Stuart Polkinghorne and Lachie Paull.
Tristan McIntosh, Jordan Simpson, Peter Wishart, Fergus Bear, Josh Berryman and Ryan Dee played well for Macorna.
Ultima’s rising stars scored a 23-point win against Macorna in the under-17 ½ grand final.
The Kangaroos led 25-15 at quarter-time.
In the second it was the Macorna Tigers who dominated play and scored 2.2 to just three behinds.
A closely-fought third quarter went Macorna’s way, 15-14.
Ultima’s run and teamwork lifted dramatically in the last as the Kangaroos scored 4.3 and held the Tigers to a tally of two behinds.
When the final siren sounded Ultima was up 10.9 (69) to 6.10 (46).
Goalkickers for the Kangaroos were Kodyn Melbourne and Sam Miller, three; Rory Bell, Lachlan Bull, Parker Condely and Riley Hender.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Lachlan Farrell, Ethan Glass and Broden Wishart on two goals apiece.
Ultima’s best were Rory Bell, Jack Miller, Billy O’Toole, Riley Hender, Kodyn Melbourne and Oliver Alderuccio.
Broden and Xavier Wishart, Blake Forster, Will Meharry, Will Canham and Rivers Webb played well for the yellow and black.
Grand final day kicked off with the under-14 ½ match between Wandella and Macorna.
The Bombers and Tigers played out a thriller.
Macorna led 8-7 at quarter-time before the Bombers won the second term, 7-2.
In the crucial third term it was Wandella which added 2.1 to 1.2.
Macorna fought on strongly to score two goals in the last, but Wandella’s tally of 1.1 was enough to seal a 34-30 victory.
Jaspa Chamberlain kicked a match-high three goals as Oscar Greenwood and Alby Lancaster were also on target for the Bombers.
Jaxon O’Rourke booted two goals for Macorna as Cooper Carmichael and Will Longstaff added one.
Wandella’s best were Jaspa Chamberlain, Charlie and Oscar Greenwood, Sam Hollingworth, Seth Rowe and Tye Colville.
Cooper Carmichael, Jaxon O’Rourke, Will Longstaff, Ewan Ray, Jacoby and Oakley Tonkin were Macorna’s best.