Ulverstone have ended a nine-year drought beating Wynyard at Wynyard for the first time since their premiership year in 2017. In the penultimate round of NWFL football and played in cool conditions the Robins burst out of the blocks kicking seven goals to two in the opening term and it was catch-up footy for Wynyard after that. The Cats did outscore Ulverstone after quarter-time, however the Robins had all the answers and went onto win 14.18.102 to 11.8.74.
Jet McGurk helped himself to a bag of seven goals in a best-on-ground performance for the Robins while the Cat’s Keegan Weller booted five. The win still gives life to the Robins getting third place and a double chance if they can beat Penguin next week and Burnie beats Latrobe.
The Robins coughed up a good lead over premiership favourites Devonport two rounds ago and weren’t about to do the same against the Cats. Wynyard coach, Zac Smith, found himself in the thick of it in the first quarter when a melee broke out on the scoreboard side flank. He left the field briefly to change jumpers and received some advice from opposition supporters in the process.
Wynyard was all at sea as the Robins kicked the first four goals of the match before Keegan Weller finally got Wynyard on the board with a goal midway through the term. Ulverstone kicked the next three to increase the margin to 38-points just before the first break.
Both teams registered two goals in the second quarter as the visitors took a 35-point lead into the sheds at half-time. Early into the third quarter the lead got out to a game-high 42-points and the match looked all but over. However the home side dug deep and kicked the next three goals to get the margin back to 22 points. A late goal to McGurk was important for the Robins as it stretched their lead back out to 29 points at the final change.
Wynyard responded early into the last quarter with the first two goals, their second reduced the margin to just 20 points, the closest they had been since Weller’s first goal in the opening term. It was back-and-forth for the rest of the quarter until Ulverstone scored the last goal of the match in the final minute sending their supporters back up the Bass Highway happy with the outcome.
Better players for Ulverstone included McGurk who was a standout in attack along with Jackson Blair in defence and Beau Nash in the midfield. While for Wynyard Kobe Jackson provided plenty of run, Weller with his five goals and skipper Sherrin Egger didn’t stop trying. The final round of the season awaits next weekend with Ulverstone hosting Penguin and Wynyard on the road to face the winless East Devonport.
Ulverstone 7.3 9.8 11.11 14.18.102
Wynyard 2.0 4.3 7.6 11.8.74
Goals: Ulverstone - McGurk 7, Linnane 1, Murfitt-Cowen 1, Lamprey 1, Bonde 1, Brayden Devries 1, Quaile 1, Kelly 1.
Wynyard - Weller 5, Egger 2, Liefhebber 1, Bourn 1, Peach 1, Madden-Evans 1.
Best: Ulverstone - McGurk, Blair, Bowen Clemons, Ethan Clemons, Nash, Quaile.
Wynyard - Jackson, Egger, Rhen Smith, Weller, Madden-Evans, Kobe Smith.
