Brigades dominate Northampton as Rovers seal home final with win over Mullewa

Brigades versus Northampton at GBSC Sports Park on Saturday was pretty much the perfect way to sign off on the regular 2022 GNFL season. Both the Rams and the Hawks are flag contenders and the battle for top dog goal kicker would be decided between Brigades Dale Williamson, sitting only five goals above Rams stalwart Nathanial Mourambine. But it was a one-sided match in the end as the Hawks won 14.10 (94) to Northampton 4.8 (32). With one win a piece so far this season the game was charged before the first bounce. Rams coach Grady Tomelty was cautiously optimistic going into the game, saying he was “hoping to get through the game unscathed and happy to do the finals the hard way through third/fourth.” The match started with the breeze at the backs of the Northampton players as Trent Simpson, playing his 100th game for the Rams, got the first points on the board after just 90 seconds. Williamson answered less than two minutes later with a goal from 40m out, the Hawks’ top scorer showing confidence and composure at a tight angle. Northampton were able to answer every challenge Brigades had for them early in the game as Liam Campbell kicked a powerful goal from 60m out. Live wire Brigades small forward Kristerfer Ryder was in action early on delivering a goal from a tight angle after 10 minutes of play. The first quarter finished with very little between the sides as the Rams took a narrow lead 3.2 (20) to the Hawks 3.1 (19). Williamson and Mourambine proved their worth for their respective sides early into the second quarter, Williamson scoring his 48th goal of the season and Mourambine bringing the score back to level terms. But as the half went on the Hawks slowly managed to break down the Rams’ defence with goals from Mick Quick and Kim Schofield. However, Trent Simpson ensured the Rams stayed in the game with his second but the momentum had shifted with the Brigades holding a confident 11-point margin over their flag rivals. They immediately extended their lead, a torpedo goal from high-flyer Ryder followed by an equally impressive mark from Schofield. Williamson was never far away from the play, scoring an easy goal from 20m out before getting his fourth of the game, taking the game further away with the Hawks’ seventh successive goal. Northampton looked lost, allowing the Hawks to run the show from their own half as Quick added to their pain with his second. The Rams were unable to put any score on the board in a disappointing quarter with the Brigades leading 11.6 (72) to 4.5 (29). It got no better in the last as Fraser Ismael and Jack Deschamp got their first goals of the game to extend Brigades’ winning margin. Brigades’ Williamson finished with four to sew up the goal-kicking award finishing with a perfect 50 — eight goals clear of Mourambine in second. The loss meant the Rovers could jump the Rams into third place and secure a home elimination final with a win over Mullewa. They did so with relative ease breaking the 100-point barrier for the second week in a row to win 17.15 (117) to 10.7 (67). A dominant five-goal opening quarter saw the Rovers take an early lead which they were able to grow over each subsequent quarter to register the big win. Justin Crudeli led the way with four majors while former Collingwood player Shannon Cox returned for his first game since round eight and booted three goals along with Gabriel Parfitt who was once again among the best on ground this season earning his 10th nomination. The results leaves Northampton playing Rovers away in the first semifinal next weekend at the Greenough Oval with Brigades playing Railways at the Recreation Ground in the following game.