UGSFL 2025: Elimination final sees confident Boddington win in challenging conditions to snatch prelim slot

Reigning premiers Boddington produced a dominant first semifinal display on Sunday, to end Kukerin-Dumbleyung’s season and progress to the Upper Great Southern Football League’s preliminary final. The Eagles are chasing back-to-back premierships and they were the superior team in the league elimination final at Wagin’s Matera Oval, running out emphatic 55-point winners. It has been a mixed season for the reigning premiers who had a strong start to the season but the loss of a some key players to injury meant their momentum faltered as the season wore on, sending them to the first semifinal against the Cougars. Heavy rain earlier in the day made for slippery conditions, but the sun came out for the first half of the game and the Eagles took the opportunity to make a flying start with four majors to the Cougars’ one in the first term. The Eagles came out hard in the second term, determined to keep up their early momentum, and kept the Cougars scoreless through the second quarter to stretch to a comfortable 40-point margin at half-time. The Cougars fought back in the third, managing 1.3 but were no match for the Eagles’ strength as they added another three majors to put the game to bed. The fourth quarter offered no reprieve for the Cougars, and the game ended with a low-scoring finish for both sides as the wind and rain returned in force, handing the Eagles a big win 12.4 (76) to 3.3 (21). Lloyd Padwick was the stand-out at the Eagles’ forward line, booting five majors while Dylan Kirk pitched in with four and Jimi Gillespie added two. The Eagles were well served by Dylan Kirk, Jarrod Salmeri, Jordan Hughes, Troy Egerton-Warburton, Ben Sherry and Zak Pretty as they take plenty of confidence into the preliminary final. Howie Clegg, Will Liston and Harrison Searle each kicked one of the Cougars’ three majors. Cougars’ Jonty Robinson, Josh Harrison, Toby Perrin, Liam Park, Austin Shotter, and Liston worked hard in defeat. Williams overran Katanning Wanderers 7.5 (47) to 1.3 (9) in the reserves competition, with the Tigers only managing one major in the game. The Cats were in control form the outset, keeping the Tigers to just three behinds in the opening three quarters. The Wanderers went scoreless in the first term and had only one behind to show for their work by half-time. Jack Leusciatti booted three goals in the 38-point win to book his side a spot in the preliminary final against Narrogin. Katanning Wanderers had better luck in the thirds, taking down Williams 4.11 (35) to 0.3 (3). The Cats could not manage a goal in the challenging conditions, as the Tigers with majors from Crawford Bolto, Brayden D’Aprile, Tramain Way and Mikelarry Woods, progressed. Wickepin kept their season alive in the fourths, in a close but low-scoring affair against Williams. The Cats made the better start, getting ahead by seven points by the long break, but the Warriors put up a strong second half to snatch the win 3.6 (24) to 2.1 (13).