A September visit to Optus Oval saw the North Ballarat Rebels eliminated from the TAC Cup finals by a determined Bendigo Pioneers on Saturday.
With first use of the wind the Rebels had most of the early play and early goals to Dean Chester and Adam Campbell were reward for early dominance around the ground by Nathan Anderson, Jed Adcock and Matt Sharkey.
Josh Thurgood, Daniel Matthews and Danny Grellet were prominent early in defence but again, as has been a constant problem for North Ballarat, Bendigo were able to score two valuable goals in red time late in the quarter.
Both sides were having problems with accurate disposal in the windy conditions so when Troy Chaplin snapped a goal and Chester kicked another from a free North Ballarat had set up a handy lead.
Red time again produced the Pioneers first goal with the wind, then a 50 metre penalty to Chaplin saw him kick his second, but another Bendigo goal just before the siren reduced the Rebels lead to 10 points.
Ryan Herring opened the second half with a goal and the Pioneers responded as the game opened up and the ball moved more freely for Chester to kick his fourth with a snap around the body.
As the quarter progress the Bendigo midfielders lifted the tempo, out marked and with better use of their opportunities finished the quarter with three goals and the lead for the first time in the game.
Heath Pyke, Thurgood and Mick Foster were gallant in defence and a Campbell mark and goal regained the lead.
Again the Bendigo running game came to the fore as they kicked the last four goals of the game to run out comfortable winners and progress to next weekends preliminary finals.
It was a disappointing end for the Rebels to be beaten in both finals appearances when they had worked so hard to secure second place on the ladder and that opportunity to play on the last Saturday in September.
Bendigo Pioneers 12.17 (89) d North Ballarat Rebels 9.10 (64)
Best: Josh Thurgood, Daniel Matthews, Mick Foster, Matt Sharkey, Heath Pyke, Adam Campbell, Jed Adcock
Goals: Dean Chester 4, Adam Campbell 2, Troy Chaplin 2, Ryan Herring 1
Last Modified on 08/02/2009 13:50