North Central: Birchip-Watchem on-ballers Nic Rippon, Daniel Bell and Ben Lakin star against Calder United

Undefeated Birchip-Watchem will finish on top of the North Central league ladder after seeing off one of its biggest threats.

Birchip-Watchem sealed the North Central league minor premiership with a decisive 42-point win against one of its biggest flag challengers, Calder United, on Saturday.

Calder United pushed the undefeated Bulls to two points early in the season and led at quarter time before being overpowered in the highly-anticipated showdown with only five matches remaining before finals.

South Australian recruit Tom Gibson starred for the Bulls as did star on-ballers, Nic Rippon, Daniel Bell and Ben Lakin.

Lakin is also in his first season with Birchip-Watchem after crossing from Wimmera club Horsham and has been in the best players seven times.

Calder United suffered a major injury blow before halftime with forward Jack Exell forced off the ground with a hamstring injury and key defender Spencer Allan also went down with a calf injury.

Calder United forward Zac Pearce charges through with the ball against Birchip-Watchem. Picture: Blake Lee

Exell had not kicked a goal when he left the ground and mid-season recruit Dale Pearce booted three goals.

The Bulls also closed down Calder’s other reliable source of goals, co-coach Jordy Humphreys.

Lions full back Oscar Madden held Birchip-Watchem star forward Ben Edwards to only two goals.

The Bulls took control with a six goal second term to open a matchwinning six goal break at halftime.

Birchip-Watchem captain Daniel Hinkley fends off Calder United's Zac Kelly. Picture: Blake Lee

Jacob Christie, who returned to Birchip-Watchem this season after two seasons with Rupanyup, booted three goals and Gibson and Rhona Conboy also kicked two.

Birchip-Watchem ruckman Hamish Hosking took the honours in the absence of Dean Putt for Calder which is also banking on the return of Matt Wade, Kobe Lloyd and Boe Bish to clinch second spot and the double chance.

Sea Lake-Nandaly stayed in the hunt for second spot with an 11-point win against third-placed Boort.

SOUTH WEST DISTRICT

Tyrendarra star forward Jordi Withers has gone on a goalkicking blitz in a 94-point demolition job on Westerns on Saturday.

Withers booted 16 of the 20 goals scored by Tyrendarra which stays alive in the battle for fourth spot along with Heywood and Branxholme-Wallacedale.

His big bag of goals eclipsed the nine he booted against Heathmere in round 8.

Withers has 45 goals for the season and trails league leader Brandon Newton from Branxholme-Wallacedale by one with four rounds remaining.

Withers was recruited to Tyrendarra from Portland in 2021 and last year topped the league goalkicking with 91 goals as Tyrendarra beat Dartmoor in the grand final to claim its first flag since 2016.

Cavendish is on top of the ladder with an 11-1 win-loss record, but only beat Tyrendarra by four points last round when Withers booted four of his team’s six goals.

HUME

Howlong injected some extra spice to the run home to finals following an upset 10-point win against Holbrook on Saturday with mid-season signing Anthony Miles starring in his second match for his original club.

Howlong trailed by 18 points at halftime and closed the margin to one point at the last change before kicking the only two goals of the final term to record its most important win of the season.

Anthony Miles playing for Richmond in 2018. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)

The Spiders climbed to fourth on the ladder with third-placed Lockhart beating fifth-placed CDHBU by 33 points.

Miles played for Greater Western Sydney, Gold Coast and Richmond and coached Ovens & Murray club Albury before joining Howlong ahead of the June 30 clearance deadline.

Miles played 10 matches for Albury in his final season as co-coach last year and agreed to come out of retirement to play alongside brother David, who is a former co-coach of Howlong.

Former Corowa-Rutherglen key forward Jared Lane also starred in the Howlong win.