football
NORTH GIPPSLAND FL
SECOND SEMI-FINAL
Heyfield v Glengarry
GLENGARRY put fellow premiership hopefuls on notice on Saturday by accounting for reigning premier Heyfield to secure a grand final berth for the second time in three seasons.
The Magpies managed to stay within reach of Heyfield in a dogged first half at Rosedale and clicked into gear in the third term, piling on the first two goals of the quarter before adding a further three to draw within a point of the Kangaroos at the final change of ends.
It was all one-way traffic in the final term as the Magpies, through power forwards Josh King and Mark Engley, established an unassailable match winning lead.
In an explosive start, Glengarry’s Ross McDermott opened proceedings before Heyfield replied with two consecutive majors from coach Adrian Cox and Jesse Bedggood.
Glengarry added a second through King but Heyfield’s Kodie Woodland settled the play and capitalised on his opportunity in front of goal before ‘Mr September’ Brett Szabo registered his first of three majors ahead of quarter-time.
Trailing by two straight kicks at the change of ends, Glengarry started the second term strongly.
Engley split the sticks with a booming kick from about 60 metres out, then turned provider moments later with a quick handpass to Robbie Cahill who ran into goal to lock the scores at 31 points apiece.
The Kangaroos stemmed the Magpies’ charge when Jesse Jackway scored from tight on the boundary.
It was followed by Heyfield’s second for the term, a soccer kick in the goal square finishing the hard work of Shaun Humphreys and Josh Stubbe.
There was plenty of passion and heat in the physical contest, typified by a brutal bump from Matt Bedggood on Glengarry’s Cahill who was sin binned.
One man down, Heyfield was forced to make a number of changes to cover the void in the backline to defend its four goal lead. Engley added two quick majors to place the Magpies within striking range at the halfway mark of the contest.
Spurred on by a vocal crowd behind goal, Glengarry scored the first two majors of the second half before Szabo provided Heyfield some breathing space with his second.
The September specialist added another minutes later thanks to a sharp delivery into the forward by Mitch Dowse.
King began to stamp his supremacy on the contest with his first of six majors for the day reeling the margin back to 15 points.
King was gifted another major thanks to a free kick, and when Engley added another six the Magpies found themselves within one point at the final change.
Heyfield coach Cox lifted his game to another level in the final term as he looked to spark the defending champion, but it was all Glengarry early.
Engley opened proceedings to hand the Magpies the lead for the first time since the opening term.
It was followed by two majors to his forward compatriot King and suddenly Glengarry held a four-goal buffer.
There was no stopping the Magpies from there and while two quick majors to Heyfield kept the Kangaroos in reach their experienced players went missing when the match was there for the taking.
Heyfield registered late goals but was left ruing numerous missed opportunities and poor choices over the course of the afternoon.
FIRST SEMI-FINAL
Rosedale v TTU
ROSEDALE kept its premiership dreams alive with a sharp 10-goal victory over Traralgon Tyers United in the knock-out semi-final.
Holding TTU to four goals in the opening half, the Blues took a 19-point lead into the long change and did not let up in the second, slamming home seven-goals-to-one with the final term a formality.
The Blues were in charge from the outset and always had the Bombers’ measure, winning 13.17 (95) to 5.5 (35).
Andrew Flanagan kicked four, and Brad Caldwell and Brad Scott chipped in with two, as Rosedale advanced to a preliminary final showdown against Heyfield.
Defender Gerard Barnes was instrumental in the last line of defence, Jack Wyhoon and Chris Graham ran rings around the opposition midfield while Jeremy Reid was a key figure in the ruck contests and set up play in the forward line.
Best on ground Barnes was outstanding, generating run off half-back as he shut down various opponents, and worked hard with Dom Keating in an impenetrable Blues backline which held the Bombers danger forwards, including Michael Hall, to a mere five majors and a scoreless final term.
The Blues dominated the centre clearance count and drilled the ball direct into the potent forward line of Flanagan, Caldwell and company.
The Bombers back six worked hard to contain the onslaught but to no avail as the side went into half-time three goals down.
TTU went further behind when Flanagan added another after outmuscling Wade McNeill.
A free kick and subsequent 50 metre penalty put Bombers coach Matt Stolarczyk in the goal square and he reeled the margin back to 18 points as tempers ran hot. Rosedale’s Keating snuck forward to goal while at the other end of the ground Callum Laurie-Rhodes’ shot on the run hit the post and Pat Sharp’s long kick from outside 50 was rushed over the line.
The Blues continued to inflict further pain on the scoreboard throughout the last to win comfortably.
The Bombers were well served by Scott Zuehlke who worked hard to create something, often out of nothing, Stolarczyk and Sharp were tireless contributors, captain Luke Middleton never dropped his head and Brian Graham worked hard to claim bragging rights over his brother Chris in the midfield.
WEEK THREE FINALS
Preliminary final
Heyfield v Rosedale
Saturday 7 September
Maffra Recreation Reserve
