Weekly Times | THE Western Border Football League survived a kick after the siren goal attempt to finish on top of its three-way interleague clash on Saturday.
The league, which straddles the Victorian and South Australian border, played in the South East Zone Carnival against the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara and Mid South Eastern leagues.
In the qualifying matches, both Western Border and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara defeated Mid South Eastern, and KTNFL won the initial encounter with Western Border by four goals.
Unfazed, Western Border prepared for a second bout against Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara in the final, which consisted of 20-minute halves, and won 6.4 (40) to 5.6 (36).
Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara had the chance to win the match when one of its players lined up for goal after the final siren, but he missed.
Casterton Sandford coach Dylan Ayton, who coached the side, said Western Border took 23 players to the carnival, but only 18 were left standing for the final because of injuries.
Ayton himself was ruled out from playing because he had been suspended for the first time in his career.
“It was a really good final. We were a couple of goals down there at half-time, but we came back really well and just outran them in the end,” he said.
“We weren’t lucky, we played really well but there were some very nervous times.
“We had a really good running team and out of the three competitions we’ve got, I know I’m adamant we’ve got the strongest competition.”
South Gambier’s Brett O’Neil was the best player consistently throughout the day on a half-back flank, and late call-up Josh Stephenson from Casterton Sandford carried a shoulder injury into the games but kicked three goals in the grand final.
Captain Simon Berkefeld (South Gambier), vice-captain Matt Scanlon (East Gambier) and ruckman Scott Fleming (South Gambier) were also important contributors.
