By Rhys Brehaut

Carngham-Linton has done it again.

 

The Saints have continued their surge toward their fourth Ballarat Bakery Lexton Plains Football League premiership, with a five point win over minor premiers Skipton in the preliminary final at Navarre, 13.12 (90) to 13.7 (85).

 

Skipton, who finished on top of the ladder with just one loss, has gone out of the finals series in straight sets unable to hold onto its three quarter time lead Saturday.

 

Carngham-Linton held sway for the entire first half and until the 21 minute mark of the third term when the Emus hit the front for the first time. Skipton clung on grimly until the weight of forward pushes by Carngham-Linton finally told the tale, with a rushed behind leveling up the scores 21 minutes into the final term.

 

It took a defensive error to cause a ball up at the top of the goal square for Clint Ladiges to snap his most important goal for the year, to put the Saints in front.

 

Matt George had the chance to level things up again, but was off line leaving his team five points shy of the never say die Saints.

 

Carngham-Linton scored three quick goals at the start of the game, to indicate its intentions for the remainder of the day.

 

Skipton hit back late, and though made little inroads on the scoreboard in the second term, edged its way back into the game possessions wise, with Kiernan Molloy dominating.

 

Two quick Jarrod Burt goals had Carngham-Linton leading by 23 points five minutes into the third period, but that seemed to spark Skipton as it must have felt it was now or never.

 

Six of the next seven goals to the Emus found them eight points up at the last change, with respective coaches giving their final message for the day.

 

And for the fourth time, Carngham-Linton hit the target first.

 

Skipton goaled eight minutes in, due to a double 50m penalty to Cam Brown to regain ascendancy, but Carngham-Linton through Burt with his fifth goal and Ladiges put the result in their favor, progressing to its sixth grand final in six years.

 

Molloy kicked five goals for Skipton, with Vaughn Dunstan, Nathan Dixon with his pace, and Ryan Arnell named in the Emus best.

 

Carngham-Linton had defenders James Raynor, Michael FitzGerald and Duane Bodey on top, and Robbie Greenbank and Jason Hill in charge for a large part of the day in the midfield.

Next Saturday, Carngham-Linton and Natte-Bealiba clash in the grand final at the Northern Oval, Ballarat.

Next weeks games:

Saturday

Grand Final at Austar Arena, Northern Oval, Ballarat

 

SENIORS: Natte-Bealiba v Carngham-Linton

RESERVES: Rokewood-Corindhap v Natte-Bealiba 

UNDER 17: Navarre v Ararat Eagles 

UNDER 14: Skipton v Carngham-Linton

 

SENIORS: Ararat Eagles v Skipton

RESERVES: Lexton v Natte-Bealiba 

UNDER 17: Natte-Bealiba v Rokewood-Corindhap 

UNDER 14: Ararat Eagles v Skipton

UNDER 12: Rokewood-Corindhap v Carngham-Linton