Grand finalists decided
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FOUR different clubs have had a team qualify for next week’s Senior Grand Finals.
Port Macquarie was too strong for Grafton in the Senior Men’s contest, the Casino Lions won an extra time thriller in the Reserves, Northern Beaches flexed their muscle in the Senior Women and Sawtell/Toormina produced a determined performance to win a close under-17s contest.
In the final match of the day which ended under lights, Port Macquarie was cleaner with its skills and more disciplined than their Grafton opponents.
Kicking into a two-goal breeze in the opening term, the Magpies goaled through Tom Dickson and Braden Saggers to take an unexpected 9-point lead into the first break.
Port looked like establishing a firm lead in the second quarter but two late goals to Grafton before two late goals to Cody Noll breathed new life into the contest and reduced the margin to 12-points at the main interval.
The second half was all Port Macquarie though with the Magpies kicking fee unanswered goals in the third term to et up a clash against the Coffs Breakers next week.
PORT MACQUARIE 3.0. 6.3. 11.3 14.6 (90)
GRAFTON 1.3 4.3 4.4 6.5 (41)
Goals – Port: T.Dickson 8, J.Schmidt 4, B.Saggers, J.Foley. Graf: C.Noll 2, T.Churchin, J.Cameron, N.O’Neill, A.Popko.
Casino Lions win in extra time
THE Casino Lions are through to the grand final for the first time in the club’s history. But it took an extra 10 minutes of football for them to get there.
In a battle of the Lions it was Nambucca Valley who enjoyed a 16 point lead at half time thanks to a five goals to nil quarter.
Casino wouldn’t be denied though and came home to tie the scores and send the contest into extra time.
CASINO LIONS 3.3 3.3 5.9 7.9 (51) then 9.10 (64) after Extra Time
NAMBUCCA VALLEY 1.1 6.1 6.1 8.3 (51) then 9.5 (59) after Extra Time
Goals – Cas: A.Tey 3, D.Bruce 2, S.Fitzpatrick, M.Murray, S.Logan, M.Smith. N.V: A.Clarke 2, L.Stuart 2, B.Pianta 2, T.Purcell, J.Hare, A.Baldwin.
Blues prove too strong for Magpies
NORTHERN Beaches jumped out of the blocks against Port Macquarie and never looked being headed in its Women’s Preliminary Final against Port Macquarie.
The Blues managed to keep Port Macquarie scoreless in the first half and stretched its lead to 33-points by the last break.
The Magpies refused to throw in the towel and earned some reward for its hard work late in the contest.
NORTHERN BEACHES 2.3 2.7 5.9 6.12 (48)
PORT MACQUARIE 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.1 (13)
Goals – N.B: K.Bassett 4, J.Midivaine, L.Hill. P.M: F.Bagley, J.Garland.
Saints dig deep in nail biter
PLAYING with a grit that saw it first to the ball on may occasions, Sawtell/Toormina held on for a tense 4-point victory over Port Macquarie to set up a grand final clash against its cross town rival the Coffs Breakers.
The Saints started strongly to build a 14-point lead at quarter time and it was a margin that built belief within the group.
The Magpies tried valiantly to get their noses in front and attacked constantly in the final stanza but Sawtell/Toormina’s defence stood up strongly in the face of great pressure to make sure their team held on.
SAWTELL/TOORMINA 2.5 3.6. 6.7 7.7 (49)
PORT MACQUARIEE 0.3 3.5 4.7 6.9 (45)
Goals – Saw: Charlie Martin 3, Sonny Perrot 2, Tane Skinner, Charlie Rutherford-Searle. Port: Will Kelly 2, Mitch White 2, Cedar Barry, Will Beckham.
GRAND FINAL DAY – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
10.00am – Under-17s: Coffs Breakers vs. Sawtell/Toormina
12.10pm – Senior Women: Coffs Breakers vs. Northern Beaches
2.00pm – Reserves: Coffs Breakers vs. Casino Lions
4.00pm – Senior Men: Coffs Breakers vs. Port Macquarie
All matches will be live streamed.