By Rhys Brehaut
2nd SEMI FINAL - 25/8/07.
Natte-Bealiba is one win away from ultimate glory having reached its first Ballarat Bakery Lexton Plains Football League grand final with a victory over Skipton at Linton on Saturday.
The Swans were far too good for the Emus, and backed up its win over the minor premiers only a month ago.
The margin of 46 points was indicative of the match, as Natte-Bealiba used its pace and skills to place their opponents under pressure causing errors and turnovers not normally attributed to Skipton.
Natte-Bealiba has now strung six wins together to be the in-form team of the league.
Its best winning sequence prior to this was two, back in rounds three and four.
Skipton had the better start and at one stage appeared it was going to go on with the job.
But the Swans got their act together, clawing their way back into the contest with four second term goals including two to the Swans new key forward, Brad Ross.
Ross finished the day with five, getting his other three majors in the third term, with Clinton Ross proving the foil ending with three himself.
But still only one point separated the two at half time.
However it didn’t take long for Natte-Bealiba to prove what it had hoped for, and that was to get on top of Skipton.
The Emus were kept to a solitary behind in the third term, while the victors booted five goals to hold an impenetrable 33 point lead at three quarter time.
The running players in Stephen Ross, Brent Mortlock, Brendan Berlund and coach James McNamee came to the fore, continually leading the race to the ball, showing Skipton a clean pair of heals, as the Emus looked slow and unsure what to do.
Coming off a break and losing in finals is not unusual for Skipton, who now need to regroup before facing its preliminary final match at Navarre against Carngham-Linton on Saturday.
Darren Fletcher, who was the only multiple goal scorer for Skipton with two, looked dangerous early, as did coach Tim McKay and the George brothers, Matt and Danny.
But Natte-Bealiba was able to cut supply to these players, turning the match on its ear and running away to record a 14.11 (95) to 7.7 (49) win.
The score was Skipton’s lowest since the preliminary final of 2002, which ironically was the last year they did not compete in the grand final.
Natte-Bealiba faces the prospect of going into the premiership match without ruckman Shane Jardine who was reported for striking Cam Brown.
1st SEMI FINAL - 26/8/07.
Carngham-Linton has proved once again it is a big game player, eliminating Rokewood-Corindhap from the Ballarat Bakery Lexton Plains Football League premiership race.
The Saints trailed at every break but came up trumps when it mattered most, at the end, winning by 12 points, 12.17 (89) to 11.11 (77).
However the result could and should have been more comfortable for the Saints, kicking 6.15 to three quarter time.
It was either going to be a famous Saints victory, or the one that got away as the final term started.
Up to this point Matt Stasse had led the way both in the ruck and around the ground for Carngham-Linton, while Justin Porter returned with two goals, and Robbie Greenbank was his ever elusive self.
For the Grasshoppers, Leigh Russell had kicked three goals, all in the third term, with Brett Augustine sitting on two.
The last term started in a flurry for the reigning premier, Adam McLean booting his second goal for the match, Mark Verdoorn opened his account while Duane Bodey booted his only goal for the game.
Just when things looked bad for Rokewood-Corindhap, Augustine stepped up twice and league best and fairest Karl Begbie once again put the Grasshoppers in front.
But this sparked the Saints for two more Verdoorn goals, and the sealer to Porter, as Rokewood-Corindhap fought valiantly to the end, finishing close, but on the wrong side of the ledger for consecutive weeks.
It was a disappointing end of the season for Rokewood-Corindhap who was no lower than third on the ladder, and had held second spot since round four.
Injuries cost it in the end, and even if they had won, would probably have missed a number of key players for next week.
But it is Carngham-Linton to again play off for a spot in the grand final against its greatest finals rival, Skipton at Navarre Saturday.
Next weeks games:
Saturday
Preliminary Final at Navarre
Seniors: Skipton v Carngham-Linton
Reserves: Carngham-Linton v Natte-Bealiba
Under 17: Rokewood-Corindhap v Ararat Eagles
Under 14: Carngham-Linton v Navarre
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