NCFL: Big three show strength as Bulls, Tigers, Royals continue march to finals

THE North Central Football League's three big guns all continued their march to the finals with wins in Saturday's round 13.

The trio of Birchip-Watchem (48 points), Sea Lake Nandaly (44) and Donald (44) are locked in a three-way battle for the double chance with three rounds remaining, with all three notching wins on Saturday.

The most dominant of the wins was Sea Lake Nandaly trouncing Boort by 149 points.

The 26.17 (173) to 3.6 (24) win at Sea Lake was the Tigers' third in their past five games by a triple-figure margin.

The Tigers kept Boort goalless for the first three quarters before the Magpies slotted three in the final term.

Will Simpson's solid form up forward continued for the Tigers with a haul of seven goals and he was also named his side's best ahead of Brodie Adcock and Jai Wright.

Matthew Chisari kicked two of Boort's three goals and was also the Magpies' best.

* The visiting Donald recorded a 20-point victory over Wedderburn.

The Royals led by two points at half-time before kicking 6.8 to 4.2 after the main break to win 12.14 (86) to 10.6 (66).

Sam Griffiths and Brody Haddow, who was the Royals' best, kicked three goals each for Donald.

Tom Campbell battled valiantly up forward for Wedderburn, kicking seven of the Redbacks' 10 goals.

* Nathan Gordon continues to have a big impact for Birchip-Watchem since his mid-season return to the Bulls.

Gordon booted five goals in the Bulls' 14.16 (100) to 7.6 (48) win over Wycheproof-Narraport and has now kicked 16 goals in his three games back with the club.

Star ruckman Lochlan Sirett was again a standout for the Bulls and has now featured among their best three players in 10 of their 13 games this year.

The better players for the Demons were led by Joe Kenny.

* St Arnaud notched its third win of the season, beating Charlton by 37 points.

The Saints prevailed 8.3 (51) to 2.2 (14) and in doing so kept Charlton winless.

Thomas Douglas slotted four goals for the Saints and featured in their best players that were led by Daniel Gifford.

The Navies' score of 2.2 included 2.1 being kicked in the second term as they were held to just 0.1 across the other three quarters.

Captain Rhys Thompson was Charlton's best.

ROUND 14 - July 30

Charlton v Wycheproof-Narraport.

Birchip-Watchem v Wedderburn.

Donald v Sea Lake Nandaly.

Boort v St Arnaud.

ROUND 15 - August 6

Wycheproof-Narraport v St Arnaud.

Charlton v Wedderburn.

Birchip-Watchem v Sea Lake Nandaly.

Donald v Boort.

ROUND 16 - August 13

Wedderburn v Wycheproof-Narraport.

Sea Lake Nandaly v Charlton.

Boort v Birchip-Watchem.

St Arnaud v Donald.

Birchip Watchem Seniors 2.4 6.7 10.15 14.16 (100)

Wycheproof-Narraport Senior 2.2 4.4 5.5 7.6 (48)

GOALS: Birchip Watchem Seniors: N.Gordon 5, S.Simmons 3, W.Sheahan 1, D.Ratcliffe 1, E.Jaeschke 1, D.Adkins 1, D.Castellano 1, S.Pye 1; Wycheproof-Narraport Senior: G.Hommelhoff 2, R.Allan 1, B.Bish 1, T.Trewin 1, T.Rumbold 1, M.Beckmans 1

BEST: Birchip Watchem Seniors: L.Sirett, E.Jaeschke, S.Simmons, J.Lindeback, K.Stevens, J.Booth; Wycheproof-Narraport Senior: J.Kenny, G.Hommelhoff, S.Allan, undefined.null, C.Burge, J.McHutchison

Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers Seniors 6.6 14.12 22.16 26.17 (173)

Boort Seniors 0.1 0.1 0.3 3.6 (24)

GOALS: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers Seniors: W.Simpson 7, J.Ellis 4, W.Donnan 3, M.Elliott 3, T.Mckenzie 2, B.Mcinnes 1, J.Summerhayes 1, A.Mertz 1, R.Osullivan 1, C.Cox 1, J.Poulton 1, B.Weir 1; Boort Seniors: M.Chisari 2, F.Holland 1

BEST: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers Seniors: W.Simpson, B.Adcock, J.Wright, C.Noonan, W.Donnan, A.Mertz; Boort Seniors: M.Chisari, N.Twigg, L.moss, K.Wilson, T.Potter, S.Green

St Arnaud Senior 3.1 3.1 5.1 8.3 (51)

Charlton Seniors 0.0 2.1 2.1 2.2 (14)

GOALS: St Arnaud Senior: T.Douglas 4, J.Patching 1, J.Hicks 1, D.Gifford 1, J.Tillig 1; Charlton Seniors: R.Thompson 1, K.Clifford 1

BEST: St Arnaud Senior: D.Gifford, J.Tillig, W.Bertalli, W.Jackson, T.Douglas, H.Durward; Charlton Seniors: R.Thompson, C.Patullo, T.Hill, J.Thompson, A.Walklate, M.Heenan

Donald Seniors 4.3 6.6 10.9 12.14 (86)

Wedderburn Senior 5.2 6.4 7.5 10.6 (66)

GOALS: Donald Seniors: B.Haddow 3, S.Griffiths 3, D.Venditti 2, D.Harrison 1, R.Young 1, J.Potter 1, R.Mcnally 1; Wedderburn Senior: T.Campbell 7, J.Lockhart 1, L.Holt 1, J.McKay 1

BEST: Donald Seniors: B.Haddow, R.Mcnally, D.Venditti, R.Young, J.Potter, S.Wood; Wedderburn Senior: T.Campbell, H.Winter-Irving, D.Jackson, J.McKay, J.Guan, C.Lowry"

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