SUNDAY’S match was an important one for both Wanderers and Hawks when they met at Clayton Road.
Wanderers were sitting in second place with just the one loss so far, and Hawks were coming off a devastating loss to Williams the week before.
On another warm day for football many of the players were sporting zinc cream.
Both sides lined up prior to the game to observe the 30 seconds silence to remember those country people who have died in road accidents as part of the Belt Up weekend.
With Ugle back in the forward line, the Hawks looked more dangerous as they made most of the early running.
Ugle was prominent early, with some strong marking and perhaps Hawks would have been further ahead at the end of the first term if his kicking had been more accurate.
Wanderers were having their fair share of the ball midfield, but they were falling down when going forward with some long kicking which was playing into the hands of the Hawks defence.
Kowald for Wanderers was an obvious target and he was taking some good marks against some strong opposition and more often than not, the ball was being cleared.
In the second quarter, Hawks continued to make the most of their opportunities.
Wheatcroft in the centre was picking up plenty of kicks while Quartermaine was winning the centre rucking contests, and proving to be handy with his around the ground presence.
Drage and Luscombe were in good form and Thompson and Boughton were opening up the game with their pace.
The two Ryans; Davis and Flugge were working hard for Wanderers and Brayden Colbung was also very active, but they were continual forced into kicking long into the forward line and with Hawks having numbers around the fall of the ball, too often they were able to clear the ball away.
Ugle up forward was far too good in the air for the Wanderer defenders and with Quartermaine drifting down forward, Hawks were controlling the air and increased their lead to over five goals by half time.
The third quarter was more even with both sides kicking four goals.
Davis, Flugge, Kowald and Brayden Colbung were working hard and Levitzke in defence was closing down many of Hawks attacks.
But Wanderers were still having trouble moving into their forward line.
Quite often their kicks were directed to a contest where their teammate was under pressure and outnumbered and they were in unable to find an easy path to goal.
Still, the Wanderers players were playing determined football.
They were putting their bodies on the line and putting pressure on the Hawks players – but the Hawks players were doing it a little easier, when they got control of the ball.
While Wanderers seemed content to push the ball long and hard, Hawks were more intent on looking for the open space and putting the ball to the best advantage of their teammate.
The Wanderers players never shirked any situation, but too often they found themselves battling again superior numbers in pack situations, and Hawks were able to win many of the contested balls.
Wanderers worked hard in the final term, outscoring Hawks with six goals to five, but unfortunately they never got close enough to look like winning the game.
At the final siren Narrogin had the premiership points with 25 points in hand.
For Hawks, Ashley Ugle top scored with eight goals and a couple of misses to be one of their best player.
He was well supported by Drage and Luscombe and coach Wheatcroft around the midfield.
Perrin Quartermaine won the Belt Up match ball as the best player on the day.
Brayden Colbung and Sheldon Kowald worked hard to keep their side in the game and Levitzke, Davis and Flugge played well.
Tim Fitzgerald in attack kicked four goals.
Wickepin maintained their winning run with their third successive win over Wagin at Wickepin.
Warriors bounded out with a strong first quarter and were never headed as the coasted through to an easy 86 point win.
Dean Moyle top scored with six goals for Wickepin with Ryan Ballard, Jamie Miller and Astbury their best.
Clayton South was again one of Bulldogs best with Daniel Jacobs and Mat Bothe.
Wagin have now lost four of their five games and it looks like being a long hard season for the Bulldogs.
Boddington went into their game against Brookton/Pingelly with a number of players out and Brenton Calver who has returned to the club after a couple of years up north, celebrated with two games – reserves and league.
However Panthers were inaccurate in front of goal and only in the final term did they manage to kick as many goals as points.
Although less scoring shots than their opponents, Boddington had the winning score on the board at the final siren and took the points with a win by 13 points.
Anthony Black is still in good form with another eight goals and along with Stevens and Stewart was his sides best player.
Steve Williams kicked three for Panthers with Cunningham, Bassett and Josh Hughes the best for their side.
Williams have now established a break of two games between themselves and second place after only five rounds when they overcame the Kukerin/Dumbleyung side at Dumbleyung on Sunday.
Cats took a five goal break by the end of the first term, and held that advantage until the final siren – winning by 42 points.
Andrew Crosby was their top scorer with four goals with Gilholme once again their best but he was well supported by Luke Crosby, Fergus and Farrant.
Nathan Ditchburn was again Cougars best player with Damien Gooding and Shayne Smith in support.
Kim Gooding was their main goalscorer with three goals.
Cougars are another side that find themselves with just one win in their five games so far, and will need to win a game or two very shortly to get back in the contest for a finals berth.
Next week sees some interesting games, in particular those between old rivals, Kukerin/Dumbleyung and Wickepin, and the western derby between Williams and Boddington.
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