BY NATHAN DOLE
Bombers fight back to beat Tigers
DRAWN to meet in a first semi-final, Wandella and Macorna played out a great match in Saturday’s 16th and final round in the Golden Rivers senior footy home-and-away series.
Third in the premiership race, Wandella went in as favourite on Macorna’s turf.
The Wandella Bombers led 19-10 at quarter-time and 38-22 by the main break.
Macorna marked one of its best quarters of the season as it scored 4.2 and held the red and black to a tally of 1.1 in the third term.
It was the Tigers who led 48-45 going into the final quarter.
Wandella lifted its play to outscore the Tigers, 21-7 in the last to complete a 66-55 victory.
The Bombers’ attack was led by Kaine O’Connell and Michael Rowe on three goals each.
Lachlan Ritchie kicked a match-high four goals for Macorna as Malcolm Neiwand added two.
Best for Wandella were John Cooper, Kaine O’Connell, Darren Rushton, Adam McKenzie, Tim Robinson and Connor Wilson.
Macorna’s best were Kurt Forder, Harley Somerville, Hunter Anset, Lachlan Ritchie, Blake Forster and Josh Berryman.
The ladder-leading Hay scored a 46-point win at home against Murrabit.
The Lions led 27-15 at quarter-time and 41-21 by half-time.
A closely-fought third term went Hay’s way, 19-14.
The Lions scored 3.5 and kept the Blues to a tally of two behinds in the last term.
At the final siren Hay led 83-37.
Lions’ co-captain Kenneth Jubb kicked three goals as Jock Crighton and Jensen Hargreaves booted two.
Toby Frankel kicked two goals for the Blues.
Best for Hay were Bentley Murphy, Daniel Stewart, Brad Pocock, Angus Gardiner, Jock Crighton and Dean Aylett.
Murrabit’s best were Austin McKerrow, Dean Harrop, Michael Grant, Sam Copland, Ben Gillingham and Ryan Manning.
At Moulamein the Swans were kept to a goal by the in-form Ultima.
The Kangaroos led 40-4 at half-time.
Xander Hartland kicked Moulamein’s sole goal in the third quarter.
It was the Ultima line-up which dominated play in a 93-11 result.
Corey Grey kicked three goals in a best afield performance as Zac Cattlin, Jay Reynolds and Ricky Wild chipped in with two.
Best for Ultima were Corey Grey, Ed Kuchel, Mitch Seton-Stewart, Mitch Makepeace, Ricky Wild and Will Nelson.
Cody Storm, Hunter Hartland, Ely Miller, Xander Hartland, Mark Drotsky and Morgan Turvey worked hard in the Swans final game of the season.
Golden Rivers senior footy ladder:
Hay 307 per cent, 60 points; Ultima 243, 56; Wandella 84, 32; Macorna 61, 20; Moulamein 56, 12; Murrabit 50, 12.
Leading goalkickers:
58 Ryan Devereux, Ultima.
58 Declan Watson, Hay.
35 Kenneth Jubb, Hay.
28 Justin Robinson, Wandella.
26 Jack Cattanach, Hay.
23 Michael Rowe, Wandella.
22 William Collis, Hay.
21 Patrick Bryan, Murrabit.
19 Tristan McIntosh, Macorna.
19 Ely Miller, Moulamein.
18 Logan Keighran, Wandella.
18 Matt Taverna, Ultima.
17 Jensen Hargreaves, Hay.
17 Jack Headon, Hay.
17 Jack Shannahan, Murrabit.
16 Heath Moloney, Moulamein.
15 Malcolm Neiwand, Macorna.
15 Adam Ward, Wandella.
15 Ricky Wild, Ultima.
14 Lochlan Prentice, Moulamein.
14 Lachlan Ritchie, Macorna.
14 Jacob Watson, Hay.
14 James White, Moulamein.
13 Jake Foster, Ultima.
13 Hunter Hartland, Moulamein.
13 Kaine O’Connell, Wandella.
13 Jay Reynolds, Ultima.
12 Lincoln Frost, Ultima.
12 Angus Gardiner, Hay.
12 Jim Houston, Hay.
11 Corey Grey, Ultima.
10 Bailey Codling, Ultima.
10 Jock Crighton, Hay.
10 Koby Gibson, Macorna.
10 Xavier Wishart, Macorna.