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Hampden: North Warrnambool upsets ladder leader South Warrnambool

The Hampden league premiership battle was turned upside down with North Warrnambool grabbing a thrilling win. See who kicked the match-winning goal.

North Warrnambool scored a thrilling late season victory over ladder leader South Warrnambool in the Hampden league on Saturday.

Jackson Mundy converted a set shot in the dying stages to hand North a four-point win to move two points ahead of Cobden in third place with two rounds remaining.

South — ladder leaders for the majority of the season — couldn’t shake a determined North, which is playing out the year minus its coach-in-waiting Nathan Vardy because of a knee injury.

South Warrnambool star Liam Youl was injured early against North Warrnambool. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
South Warrnambool star Liam Youl was injured early against North Warrnambool. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The match was in stark contrast to when the two teams met in the corresponding clash last year and South won comfortably by 51 points.

North Warrnambool coach Adam Dowie. Picture: Supplied
North Warrnambool coach Adam Dowie. Picture: Supplied

Six-time Hampden league premiership coach Adam Dowie is stepping aside at the end of the season.

He took North into the grand final last season only to lose to Koroit which he had previously coached to three flags.

North and Koroit are level on 44 points and meet in the final round of the season.

Teenage defender Charlie McKinnon subdued dangerous South forward Shannon Beks when moved onto him in the second term.

Victorian Country representative Luamon Lual played for South Warrnambool in the Hampden league on Saturday. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Victorian Country representative Luamon Lual played for South Warrnambool in the Hampden league on Saturday. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

South lost key playmaker Liam Youl early in the match to a back injury and had draft prospect Luamon Lual available.

OMEO DISTRICT

Swifts Creek has won an extra time thriller to move into a grand final for the second successive season.

Swifts Creek and Omeo-Benambra were tied at 11.10 (76) when the final siren sounded to end the second semi-final played at Swan Reach.

Daniel Hayes, who had kicked three goals in regulation time, produced the all important only goal of extra time from a set shot to seal a five-point win for Swifts Creek, which also made last year’s grand final with an extra time win against Swan Reach in the preliminary final.

Omeo-Benambra's Jacob Tomkins slips a tackle from Swifts Creek’s Zac Tactor during the second semi-final at Swan Reach. Picture: Jason Darby
Omeo-Benambra's Jacob Tomkins slips a tackle from Swifts Creek’s Zac Tactor during the second semi-final at Swan Reach. Picture: Jason Darby

Hayes was best-on-ground for the victors who had other good players in Richard Crabtree and Conor Harvey.

Swifts Creek trailed by more than 20 points in the second quarter before hitting the front at halftime by two.

Former Brisbane player Ryan Harwood was sorely missed by Omeo-Benambra in the second semi-final against Swifts Creek, which won in extra time. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)
Former Brisbane player Ryan Harwood was sorely missed by Omeo-Benambra in the second semi-final against Swifts Creek, which won in extra time. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Omeo-Benambra went into the match without former Brisbane Lions player Ryan Harwood, who booted 10 goals in his most recent outing against Buchan.

It’s expected he will return for the preliminary final against Bruthen on Saturday.

Cudgewa advanced to the Upper Murray grand final with a 111-point thrashing of Bullioh in the second semi-final.

Swifts Creek's Conor Harvey bursts away from the pack against Omeo-Benambra. Picture: Jason Darby
Swifts Creek's Conor Harvey bursts away from the pack against Omeo-Benambra. Picture: Jason Darby

The Picola District finals series started on Saturday with Katandra staying in the flag race with a 27-point elimination final win over Deniliquin Rovers.

Luke Smith played a starring role for the victors with four goals.

MURRAY

Congupna, which was outside the top 6 a month ago, could claim an unlikely double chance finish after a day of shocks.

The Road easily took care of Barooga by 94 points to climb to third spot ahead of a last round clash with out of contention Tongala.

But Tongala produced the upset of the round on Saturday by defeating second-placed Numurkah, which has the bye in the final round.

Former coach Jordan Souter booted four goals for Tongala.

Finley clinched a finals berth by beating fifth-placed Nathalia by 11 points with South Australian recruit Bailey Reeves and Mitchell Reilly, another newcomer this year, starring for the Cats.

Nathalia’s defeat ended any hopes of a double chance finish.

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Original URL: https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/sport/hampden-north-warrnambool-upsets-ladder-leader-south-warrnambool/news-story/6fd615cd9c6a72d8a41274b193556805