by Jim Gordon
SEA LAKE NANDALY TIGERS V BEULAH
Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers live to fight another day after a stirring 27 point victory over Beulah in the MFL First Semi Final on Sunday. The Tigers withheld a spirited Beulah comeback just before three quarter time to score five goals to three in the final term and run out comfortable winners in the end. It may not have been pretty to watch, but it was a great game of high pressure football all day.
With scores almost level at half time, the Tigers won this game in the second half when their superior fitness and a fierce desire to win the contested ball were too much for a Beulah side that had no answer to the all round skills of three time Russ Gravestock medal winner Col Durie.
Durie did what Durie does best – he stood tall often alone in and around the centre bounces and won clearance after clearance in that vital third term when the Tigers got off to a great start with the first four or five goals to take control of the match. Durie marked brilliantly all day, but his contested mark right in the centre of the ground in the last quarter stood out. It was at a vital time and his solo effort seemed to spur the Tigers on in their great last quarter.
Beulah got the first goal of the game and from then on it was pretty much neck and neck right up until half time with both teams guilty of turning the ball over inside 50m. The slight breeze that had favoured the Tigers in the opening term dropped off before half time.
The Blues worked their way back into the contest with late goals in the third term and went into the final quarter trailing by only two goals. It was then that the Tigers finally took over and were able to shake off the Blues with their superior fitness and they finished the game off in what turned out to be a very good victory.
Along with Durie, Lance Brown was another Tiger to stand up in and around the centre clearances early in that match winning third term to provide Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers with another strong presence against a talented Beulah midfield. At one stage Brown went forward and goaled.
Steph Saunders was expected to dominate the ruck after his strong season for Beulah so when he went off late in the second with a leg injury, things did not look good for the Blues. Saunders returned to the ground later in the game, but it was obvious that he was still sore and he was never able to have the influence on the game that he usually has.
In another blow for Beulah Rob Carlisle, who was playing well, hurt his lower leg in a collision shortly after Saunders went off and he took no further part in the game.
For the winning Tigers, Dan McKeown rucked well and was dangerous running forward where he kicked three goals, Troy Ferrier was a solid ball winner and Matt Elliott wore Beulah stalwart Scott Smith like a glove. Bruce Guthrie never gave up trying and was an inspiration in the Tiger backline.
Tyler Lehmann marked strongly around the ground and David King was a strong body up forward for Beulah finishing with five goals. Tom Hallam and Luke Smith were also good contributors for the Blues.
To cap off two terrific days of Mallee football, the gate takings at Woomelang were $7,850 and we can now expect another big crowd to turn up to an enthralling match up when the Tigers take on Hopetoun at Ouyen’s Blackburn Park for a place in this year’s MFL Grand Final against Walpeup Underbool.
Last Modified on 05/09/2012 20:16
