Lions victorious over undefeated Ultima

By Lindy Stewart

Hay Lions first grade met ladder leaders Ultima for third time this season.

With the envious home ground advantage, Hay Lions were confident they could take it up to the premiership favourites and reverse the results of the previous two games.

The first minutes of the game were a carbon copy of the most recent matchup where it was hard for either team to gain the ascendancy from clearances and get clean ball into their forwards.

Ferociousness around the contest saw repeated turnovers and multiple stoppages until Ultima steadied and started to assert some dominance in ball movement catching the Lions a little off the pace.

Ultima had double the inside 50 entries, but they failed to take advantage of their scoring potential, squandering the chance to set themselves up for the game to force Hay into catch-up football.

Hay opened their scoring with one goal for the quarter through Declan Watson with Ultima kicking a wasteful 3:5 to Lions 1:2 to go into the first break with a slim 15-point lead.

A blunt quarter time address from the coaches saw Lions turning it on in the second from the first centre clearance producing their most scintillating attacking quarter of the season.

Lions went into full predator mode getting plenty of ball and forced Ultima on to the backfoot to make mistakes. This worked in Lions favour adding to the scoreboard pressure.

Lions had excellent return from their inside 50 entries with the midfield and wingers delivering clean ball to the forwards, who took their time to kick 7:5 to Ultima’s 2:2.

Hay went into the halftime break with a three-goal lead, all the momentum and Ultima no doubt ruing their missed goals from the first.

At halftime, Hay led 8:7 to Ultima 5:7.

The third quarter was a complete contrast to the Lions second quarter blitz, with both teams scrapping their way through the contest.

Hay and Ultima played with the same intent - bring weight of numbers to shut down attack, through pressure acts, to suffocate ball movement.

Lions did not want Ultima to take advantage of the wind and Ultima did not want a repeat of second quarter goal fest.

As a result, multiple stoppages in boggy conditions stifled score return with limited chances resulting in both teams kicking a solitary goal.

Three quarter time saw Hay lead 9:9 Ultima 6:10.

Hay was never going to have it easy going into the last from a team that is top of the ladder for a reason.

Ultima did not lay down.

Lions had to work hard to find the connections to move the ball into their attacking 50 zone while nullifying Ultima entries into theirs.

Everything went to plan until midway through the quarter.

Ultima were gifted a hint of possibility through two quick goals that reduced the gap and brought a touch of nervousness to the Hay bench.

However, a couple of steadiers from key forwards Declan Watson and Paddy Jubb increased the margin to a comfortable 21 points of which they were never headed. In the final minutes, Lions applied a tight defensive zone in their half that Ultima were unable to penetrate.

All of Ultima’s potential scoring options and a chance to add to their total snuffed out.

The Lions buckled down when they had to and maintained a commitment to the contest that never wavered after quarter time to run out deserved winners.

Ultima’s defence – much like previous opponents - struggled to contain Declan Watson who had another blinder, kicking eight goals to take his season tally to 27 from four games.

Midfielder Dom Booth was brutal and damaging in his ‘don’t argue’ approach to every contest.

He was the straight-ahead man, breaking through congestion and applying defensive pressure all over the ground allowing no breathing space to any opposition player.

Luke Arandt took on the full brunt of rucking duties with the absence of James Moran.

He brought aggression and intimidation to each contest consistently winning hit-outs giving Hay plenty of ball for the taking.

The win however came at a great cost for Lions.

Gun midfielder Hugh Crighton sustained a catastrophic season ending injury to a broken lower leg in his first game back from injury.

This is an irreplaceable loss for Lions midfield and one which will be felt when the Lions play finals.

Coaches top six players were Dom Booth, Luke Arandt, Declan Watson, Daniel Zambon, Jeremy Watts, and Liam Whitborne.

Final score: Hay 12.11-83 Ultima 8.14-62. Goal scorers: Declan Watson 8, Paddy Jubb 2, Jack Headon, Liam Whitborne.

Despite still being third on the ladder, in beating the undefeated and premiership favourites, Lions now become the hunted in the race to September.

Photo gallery images: Margie McClelland / The Riverine Grazier.