Patrons who witnessed this contest between the Navy Blues and the Saints got real value for their money with the lead changing on many occasions right throughout the game and it was anyone’s game at the final break with only a goal separating the top two teams.
In the first quarter it was Charlton who struck the first blow when McGrath brought up the first score of the match, a goal at the two minute mark, from there on the scoring opportunities dried up until late into the term when St Arnaud kicked two goals to take the lead, right on siren time McKenzie put the navy Blues within a point of the Saints as the teams went to the first break.
St Arnaud’s Tungatalum showed some magic to bring up the first major of the term to give the Saints a small lead. Thompson who was moved from defence into the forward line for Charlton responded to the move kicking truly to bridge the gap, McLean followed soon after and the Navy Blues were back in front. The Saints went on to kick three further goals for the term through Liam Cunningham and Ross Tungatalum who once again showed his skills and treading through his second for the quarter. Coach McNamee got into the action to extend the lead of the Saints only to see his counterpart in Reece Collins do the same at the other end of the ground; McKee for Charlton got the Navy Blues back within five points at the main stoppage in play. This had been a very interesting game to this point and there was no reason that it would not continue down that pathway after the long break.
Both sides made some positional changes, hoping that this would give them the edge in the second half. Munkara was moved up forward for the Saints and this proved effective with an immediate result kicking the first of his three goals for the quarter. Collins and McKenzie both goaled for the Navy Blues to give them back the lead by just three points. St Arnaud centerman Lee Stewart responded and put the Saints back in front, Munkara again kicked truly and extended the Saints lead to 9-points. Charlton lifted their work rate from this point on to halt the Saint efforts to extend their lead further. Judd, McKee and Roberts all goaled and the Navy Blues had turned it around to lead by two goals, the Saints answered through McNamee and Munkara before Thompson put Charlton back in front at the end of the quarter with the margin being one goal with one term to go and a place in the Grand Final between these two top sides was up for grabs.
Charlton extended their lead when Aaron Walklate goaled, McNamee who placed himself at full forward answered for the Saints and it was back to a six point lead to the Navy Blues. Roberts got on the end of a good passage of play to put the Navy Blues sixteen points up and their chances of advancing through to the Grand Final were looking a real chance. McNamee reduced the lead when he kicked his fifth goal of the day and the Saints were trailing by less than two goals with time-on to play. St Arnaud’s hopes of making it straight through to the Grand Final were dashed when a fifty metre penalty was doubled and Charlton’s Thompson goaled to put their lead back out to 16-points with time running out for the Saints. Charlton finished off the game with a further two goals to McKee and Collins and the Charlton side had won their way into their first Grand Final since 2009 where they triumphed over Donald at Wedderburn. The Saints now face up to Wedderburn at Boort next week to decide who will challenge Charlton for the Halfhide Cup. Overall this was a high quality game of football where both sides gave the large crowd value for their money and they will get another quality game next week at Boort where the North Central Preliminary Finals will be staged with the winners advancing through to the final week of what has been another successful season for the North Central Football League.
Final score: Charlton 17-16 def St Arnaud 13-12=90
Best for Charlton: R. Thompson, J. McLean, A. Walklate, T. Finlay, C. Thiesz, K. Sait.
Goals: R. Thompson, J. McKee, R. Collins 3, B. Roberts, A. McKenzie 2, A. Judd, A. Walklate,J. McLean, J. McGrath 1 each.
Best for the Saints: M. Brady, Lachlan Cunningham, J. McNamee, R. Grigg, N. Reid, N.Coghlan. Goals: J. McNamee 5, D. Munkara 3, R. Tungatalum 2, N. Coughlan, Liam Cunningham, L. Stewart 1 each.
Photo's from This weeks Senior, Reserves, and Under 16's games available at this link.
Reserves
Donald was never troubled in this game where they kept the Saints to just two goals for the game. Donald advance through to the Grand Final and the Saints now meet Wycheproof-Narraport in the Preliminary final at Boort.
Donald 13-9= 87 def St Arnaud 2-10=22
Under 16’s
Boort took control of this game in the second term and were never headed and run out winners by 27-points. Donald now meets St Arnaud for the right to play in the Grand Final in two weeks’ time.
Boort 9-5=59 def Donald 5-2 =32.
Under 13’s
Top team Birchip-Watchem have made it through to the Grand Final by defeating Donald by just two points.
Final Score Birchip-Watchem 4-4=28 def Donald 3-8=26.
Next Week’s Preliminary Finals
Seniors 2.30 pm St Arnaud v Wedderburn
Reserves 12.30 pm St Arnaud v Wycheproof- Narraport
Under 16’s 10.50 am Donald v St Arnaud
Under 13’s 9.30 am Donald v St Arnaud
Last Modified on 10/09/2013 00:15
