By Lauren Henry

A one-point second quarter proved costly in Warrack Eagles’ bid to score its first win in season 2025.

The Eagles lost to Horsham Saints by 14 points in round five action of the Wimmera league.

Played at Coughlin Park, the Eagles came out firing in the first quarter to take a 37-13 lead into quarter time.

It was all the Eagles’ way in the first 20 minutes of the match, with the home side not scoring until the 21-minute mark of the first quarter.

But the Saints were able to turn the match around in the second term, kicking 4.5 to the Eagles’ one point to have the match evenly-poised at the main break.

Two goals’ apiece from Mitch Martin and Cody Bryan were key in the Saints taking a four-point lead into half-time.

The home side, through the likes of Martin, Keegan Mellington and Corey Morgan, were able to edge their lead out to six points by three-quarter time.

Kicking 1.4 in the third quarter, the Eagles failed to capitalise on their scoring opportunities, but it was still anybody’s game to win going into the fourth term.

In a free-flowing last quarter, the Saints outscored the Eagles four goals to three and were able to hang on for a win.

The Eagles – through Machok Garang, Sam Hanna and Charlie Penny – again put in an admirable performance but were unable to secure the four points.

For the Saints, the win keeps them in the mix at this early point of the season – they now sit sixth, ahead of Stawell who could not match it with Nhill on Saturday.

The Warriors have slipped to seventh position, after a poor second half against the Tigers.

Played at Davis Park, Nhill, after an even first half, the Tigers took control of the game, piling on eight goals to the Warriors’ two.

Darcy Honeyman, Lucas Dahlenburg and Nathan Alexander were impressive for the home side, while for the Warriors, Charlie Gibson, Cody Driscoll with five goals, and Ethan Marrow were the best players.

Nhill now sits in second spot – by percentage – on a ladder where, apart from the undefeated Ararat, only one game separates teams from second to seventh.

In the grand final rematch, the Rats had the match pretty much sealed at half-time when they held a 50-point lead.

Without playing coach and former Toohey league medallist Kieran Delahunty who had broken his leg the week before in the match against Minyip-Murtoa, Southern Mallee Thunder was no match as Ararat cruised to a 52-point win.

Delahunty is set to miss three months with a broken fibula – a major blow to the Thunder’s premiership quest.

Led by Hugh Toner, James Hosking and Henry Shea, the Rats recorded their fifth win of the season and will now turn their attention to this weekend’s match against Minyip-Murtoa, who are coming off a bye.

Meanwhile, Dimboola notched up its third consecutive win, recording an 89-point win over Horsham.

A seven-goal first quarter saw the Roos set up the match, and they did not look back.

Dylan Landt, Jonathon Ross and Ben Mille were valuable for the Roos, who had two players kick a bag of five goals – Ben Brett and coach Andrew Moore.

The Demons, yet to win a match this season, will have a tough task as they travel to Central Park to take on Stawell, while the Roos have a bye this weekend.

In other round six matches, Minyip-Murtoa take on Ararat, Southern Mallee Thunder host Horsham Saints, and Warrack Eagles play Nhill.

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