BY NATHAN DOLE
Ultima wins clash for cup with Hay by a point
ULTIMA is celebrating its 11th senior footy premiership after Saturday’s grand final showdown with Hay to cap the Golden Rivers season.
The Kangaroos and Lions played out a one-point thiller at Hay Recreation Reserve.
Beaten by the Lions in the second semi-final by 49 points, Ultima went in as underdog against a club chasing back-to-back premierships.
The Lions led 14-13 at quarter-time of the grand final.
In the second it was Ultima which took control.
The Kangaroos scored 5.4 and held the Lions to a tally of 3.3.
By half-time it was the Roos who were up 47-35.
Hay hit back hard in the third quarter.
The Lions slammed on 5.2 and kept Ultima to a score of 2.2.
In a nerve-racking final quarter Ultima turned a one-goal deficit into a one-point lead as it scored 2.3.
Strong defence held the Lions to a tally of 1.2.
At the final siren Ultima led 76-75.
Jay Reynolds led the Kangaroos’ attack on three goals as Matt Taverna added two.
Leading goalkicker for the Lions was Jack Headon with a match-high five goals as Jack Cattanach and Declan Watson chipped in with two.
Best for Ultima were Thomas Bull, Jye Purtill, Kyle Symons and Mitchell Sexton-Stewart.
It was the Kangaroos’ first senior premiership since 2015 when the club went back-to-back.
Hay’s best were Jack Headon, Jacob Watson, Jack Cattanach and Jim Houston.
It was Hay’s fourth attempt at back-to-back premierships.
The Lions are yet to achieve the feat.
It was double joy for Ultima as the reserves won Saturady’s clash with Murrabit by 34 points.
The Roos led 48-21 at half-time and did not ease up as they scored 3.8 to 3.1 in the second half.
Kade Benfield kicked four goals in a 74-40 victory.
Murrabit’s attack was led by Josh Bray and Toby Frankel on two goals.
Best for Ultima were Jordan King, Jayden Kiel, Reece Harberger and Kade Benfield.
Sean Gillen, Darcy Hetherington, Riley Carse and Josh Bray played well for the Blues.
It was a one-point thriller in the under-17 ½ grand final between Macorna and Ultima.
The Tigers turned an eight-point deficit at half-time into a two-point lead going into the final term.
Macorna scored 2.1 in a dramatic final term as Ultima added 2.2.
As the siren sounded it was the yellow and black in front, 46-45.
Will Meharry kicked a match-high three goals for Macorna.
The Kangaroos’ attack was led by Kodyn Melbourne and Sam Miller on two goals.
Macorna’s best were Sam Whinfield, Thomas Campbell, William Canham and Cooper Carmichael.
Best for Ultima were Lachlan Bull, Ed Kuchel, Maddox Hyland and Riley Hender.
Grand final kicked off with the under-14 ½ match between Murrabit and Hay.
It was 12-all at quarter-time before Hay won the second term, 14-6.
Murrabit hit back to score 3.1 in the third quarter as Hay added 2.1.
The Lions led by two points at the start of the last term.
Hay’s tally of 1.3 as the Blues replied with 1.2 was enough for the Lions to claw their way to a 48-45 victory.
The Lions’ attack was led by Alex Giddins on two goals.
Leo Ellison booted two goals for Murrabit.
Best for the Lions were Max Hutchings, Kobe Payne, Kyper Woods and Hilton Hargreaves.
Cooper Hein, Parker Bray, Leo Ellison and Xavier Hein were best for the Blues.
Golden Rivers footy grand finals scoreboard:
Seniors:
Ultima 2.1 7.5 9.7 11.10 (76)
Hay 2.2 5.5 10.7 11.9 (75)
GOALS – Ultima: Jay Reynolds 3, Matt Taverna 2, Thomas Bull, Bailey Codling, Ryan Devereux, Mitch Makepeace, Jamie Nicholas, Mitch Seton-Stewart. Hay: Jack Headon 5, Jack Cattanach, Declan Watson 2, Jensen Hargreaves, Kenneth Jubb.
BEST – Ultima: Thomas Bull, Jye Purtill, Kyle Symons, Mitch Seton-Stewart, Caillum Brady, Jamie Nicholas. Hay: Jack Headon, Jacob Watson, Jack Cattanach, Jim Houston, Joel Crocker, Will Collis.
Reserves:
Ultima 2.2 7.6 8.10 10.14 (74)
Murrabit 3.3 3.3 5.3 6.4 (40)
GOALS – Ultima: Kade Benfield 4, Billy Delmenico, Riley Haberman, Jordan King, Braydon Ottrey, Lachie Paull, Jacob Schaper. Murrabit: Josh Bray, Toby Frankel 2, Matthew Davies, Darcy Hetherington.
BEST – Ultima: Jordan King, Jayden Kiel, Reece Harberger, Kade Benfield, Brayden Hogan, Sam Coffey. Murrabit: Sean Gillen, Darcy Hetherington, Riley Carse, Josh Bray, Darcy Gillen, Rhys Carmichael.
Under-17 ½:
Macorna 2.1 3.3 5.3 7.4 (46)
Ultima 0.2 4.5 4.7 6.9 (45)
GOALS – Macorna: William Meharry 3, Cooper Carmichael, Jaxon O’Rourke, Sam Whinfield, Broden Wishart. Ultima: Kodyn Melbourne, Sam Miller 2, Lachlan Bull, Ed Kuchel.
BEST – Macorna: Sam Whinfield, Thomas Campbell, William Canham, Cooper Carmichael, William Meharry, Logan Gibson. Ultima: Lachlan Bull, Ed Kuchel, Maddox Hyland, Riley Hender, Rory Bell, Sam Miller.
Under-14 ½:
Hay 2.0 4.2 6.3 7.6 (48)
Murrabit 2.0 3.0 6.1 7.3 (45)
GOALS – Hay: Alex Giddins 2, Hilton Hargreaves, Bill Houston, Max Hutchings, Ned Williamson, Liam Young. Murrabit: Leo Ellison 2, Jobe Hein, Xavier Hein, Zane McKerrow, Dustie Thomson.
BEST – Hay: Max Hutchings, Kobe Payne, Kyper Woods, Hilton Hargreaves, Harry Houston, Liam Young. Murrabit: Cooper Hein, Parker Bray, Leo Ellison, Xavier Hein, Xavier Murray, Evan McNeil.