Warwick Redback's have locked in their position as one of the two competing teams for the 2014 Allied Pickford's Cup, after stunning University in the opening term to set up their 13.16 (94) to 7.14 (56) victory.
An opening stanza of 6 goals to 1, set the Redback's up from the get go. However it wasn't all smooth sailing with either side only able to register behinds or erratic kicks out of bounds for the first 8 minutes of the quarter. In windy conditions at Reddies Oval, it was the Redback's who chalked up the first major of the qualifying final.
2013 Holman Medallist Kurt Millard, kicked the game and Redback's first goal at the 8minute 16 second mark. The Millard goal was followed by a flurry of goals with Benjamin Heppell and Brendan Iles bagging a double, with Adam Stevenson the other goal-kicker for Warwick.
It set up, what turned into a match winning lead, Warwick up by 43-points at the first change.
Warwick continued on their goal-kicking ways early in the second with mid-season recruit Damian Morris kicking the opening goal 4 minutes into the term. University with the strong wind in the second term, were able to scrap the footy forward where the seasoned campaigner Heath Gniel was able to slot not one but two majors within 90-seconds of each other.
University were able to make some inroads during the second term, decreasing the Warwick lead to 28-points for the long change.
The third quarter was an arm wrestle, with neither side able to break away from the other. However, the Redback's found a way late in the quarter with the first major for the term coming at the 17 minute mark through Brendan Iles.
The Iles goal was quickly followed by goals to Max Triffett and Heppell, to extend the Warwick lead out to a match high 44-point margin.
Though, a late goal just before the three quarter time siren to the experienced Gniel again, saw that lead cut back to 38-points going into the last 25 minutes.
However, as they had done all day the Redback's were first to score but again it was mid-way through the quarter with Triffett picking up his second snag for the afternoon. University hit back very quickly through midfielder Ryan Hopkins but the Redback's were able to goal through Coen Slatter and Kurt Heier straight away to stamp out any chance of a miracle come-back.
Cougars forward Jarryd McCarthy slotted a late quarter goal to reduce the final margin ever so slightly but the damage was done, with the game set up in an impressive opening quarter.
Warwick ran out 38-point victors with Kurt Millard and captain Alex Cutmore the best for the Redback's, amongst a very good team performance.
For the defeated Cougars, their skipper Cory Balnaves was the standout University player, repelling numerous raids from the opposition. University will now face Coolaroo in the Preliminary Final next Saturday, while Warwick will sit and wait to see who they will face off against for the ultimate prize in footy.
Goal Kickers: B. Iles 3, B. Heppell 3, M. Triffett 2, C. Slatter , A. Stevenson , K. Heier , D. Morris , K. Millard
Best Players: K. Millard , A. Cutmore , A. Stevenson , T. Clarkson
UNIVERSITY
Goal Kickers: H. Gniel 4, J. McCarthy , R. Hopkins , S. Huggins
Best Players: C. Balnaves , H. Gniel , A. Harley , L. Brumle
Last Modified on 15/09/2014 08:42
