By RHYS WOOSNAM - Division 3 Reserves
THE first week of finals in the WRFL saw two very interesting results and a season over for the Newport Power.
Tarneit booked their place in the Grand Final with a tight 23-point victory against rivals Parkside.
Their victory gives them the week off and solidifies their premiership favouritism, with only two other sides snapping at their heels. Having lost just a solitary game in the regular season, Tarneit should be full of confidence as they await their ultimate opponents come September 3rd.
The momentum of the match shifted back and forth, with Parkside keeping their rivals scoreless in the first quarter and didn’t kick a goal themselves in the second.
With each side sitting on 21-points apiece at half-time, it was Tarneit who stood up when it counted.
They booted six goals to two after the main break and held off a determined Parkside in a tough encounter.
Leading goal-kicker Troy Whiting had a big day out, kicking seven of his team’s nine majors in a star-making performance.
Tarneit will now play the winner of the preliminary final between Parkside and third-placed Wyndham Suns.
The Suns announced their premiership legitimacy by trouncing Newport by 53-points.
They held the ascendency for all four quarters, increasing their lead at every change.
For the victors, Corey Thomas kicked five goals and Cajetan Faranda booted two.
Newport were kept in the contest by Khalad Houli’s four majors and Tohi Gold Okati’s tremendous pressure at the coalface.
It was a team that had nothing to lose, having finished two games off top spot, and a level below the other two finals competitors. However, in finals your ladder position doesn’t matter, and if the Suns keep up their current form, anything could happen.
Moving to preliminary finals weekend and Wyndham and Parkside will face off to determine who gets a shot and premiership glory and to topple the mighty Tarneit Titans.
Ladder wise, it will be second vs third, but in the current scheme of things, it’s a confident Wyndham battling a weary Parkside.
If the Suns can keep Parkside forwards David Orchard, Chris Hall and Mark Folwell quiet, they will be a very good chance of causing an upset.
With just two games left in the 2016 season, it is shaping up to be a very exciting finish where anyone could claim the ultimate prize.
Last Modified on 23/08/2016 09:35