Sandhurst fights for victory against Storm
Sandhurst fights for victory against Storm
SANDHURST capped a brilliant final quarter fightback to beat Strathfieldsaye in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy preliminary final on Sandhurst.
The Dragons were down by 15 points at the start of the final quarter on Queen Elizabeth Oval.
With a place in the grand final against Gisborne to be won it was Sandhurst which lifted its play dramatically in the windy conditions.
Both teams had struggled for accuracy in attack.
The Dragons had scored 4.11 across the opening three terms as Storm had surged to a score of 7.8.
In the last it was Sandhurst which took control at many of the stoppages and centre breaks.
Led by the play of James Coghlan, Lachlan Wright and Noah Walsh, Sandhurst scored 4.5 and kept Storm to a tally of four behinds in the final term.
A 64-54 victory meant the Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Sandhurst was through to another grand final where it will meet the Rob Waters-coached Gisborne.
The experienced Joel Wharton was Sandhurst’s only multiple goalkicker on two.
Strathfieldsaye key forward Malik Gordon played a superb game to kick a match-high four goals.
The Dragons’ showed it does not always have to be captain and gun on-baller/mid Lachlan Tardrew dominating play.
Tardrew still featured in Sandhurst’s best, but had great support from Cobi Maxted and Isaac Ruff.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were the athletic Caleb Ernst, Patrick Blandford, Daniel Clohesy, and multiple premiership winner Ben Lester.
In the Drummond Golf reserves competition, Gisborne marked a seven-goal win against Strathfieldsaye.
The Bulldogs had kicked off the week with Jacob Murphy winning the Alan McDonald Medal as the competition’s fairest and best player for a second time.
An inaccurate Gisborne scored 1.5 and kept Storm scoreless in the first term of the preliminary final.
A tally of 3.2 in quarter two put the Bulldogs up by 29 points at half-time.
Gisborne scored another four goals in the second half as Storm replied through Jack Lacey and Jye Stephens.
A Bulldogs’ attack led by Hayden Doricic and Tom Wood on two goals apiece proved too strong in a 57-15 victory.
Best for the Bulldogs were Kane Minns, Lachlan Nesbitt, Zach Paterson and Tom Wood.
Strathfieldsaye Storm’s best were Dermott Bell, Charlie Morrison, Luke Marchesi and Jack Lacey.
Gisborne will now take on Sandhurst in the grand final.
It was a two-point thriller in the Sportspower under-18s preliminary final between Gisborne and Golden Square.
The Gisborne line-up charged to a 20-4 lead by quarter-time.
In the second it was Golden Square which hit back to score 2.2 as Gisborne added two behinds.
A closely-fought third quarter went Gisborne’s way, 12-9.
Golden Square did plenty of attacking in the last.
As the blue and gold scored 1.6, Gisborne added 1.1.
The team in red, white and blue led 41-39 at the final siren.
Jack Rutten and Jye Zerafa both kicked two goals for Gisborne.
Golden Square had four individual goalkickers in a match where it led the scoring shots, 19-11.
Best for Gisborne were August Stelma, Jack Rutten, Baden Dickins and Campbell Johns.
Golden Square’s best were Riley Dillon, Jesse Gill, Melvic Pambai and Bailey Warfe.
Grand final day kicks off with the under-18s clash between Sandhurst and Gisborne.
Bendigo FNL footy preliminary finals scoreboard:
Bendigo Bank seniors:
Sandhurst 3.6 3.9 4.11 8.16 (64)
Strathfieldsaye 3.0 6.6 7.8 7.12 (54)
GOALS – Sandhurst: Joel Wharton 2, James Coghlan, Jake McLean, Zach Pallpratt, Cooper Smith, Lachlan Tardrew, Noah Walsh. Strathfieldsaye: Malik Gordon 4, Bode Stevens 2, Zach Charles.
BEST – Sandhurst: James Coghlan, Lachlan Wright, Noah Walsh, Cobi Maxted, Isaac Ruff, Lachlan Tardrew. Strathfieldsaye: Caleb Ernst, Patrick Blandford, Daniel Clohesy, Ben Lester, Matt Harvey, Malik Gordon.
Drummond Golf reserves:
Gisborne 1.5 4.7 6.8 8.9 (57)
Strathfieldsaye 0.0 0.2 1.3 2.3 (15)
GOALS – Gisborne: Hayden Doricic, Tom Wood 2, Matthew Barake, Michael Steinbach, Luke Weber, Ed Williams. Strathfieldsaye: Jack Lacey, Jye Stephens.
BEST – Gisborne: Kane Minns, Lachlan Nesbitt, Zach Paterson, Tom Wood, Luke Weber, Jacob Murphy. Strathfieldsaye: Dermott Bell, Charlie Morrison, Luke Marchesi, Jack Lacey, Ethan Featherby, George Simpson.
Sportspower under-18s:
Gisborne 3.2 3.4 5.4 6.5 (41)
Golden Square 0.4 2.6 3.9 4.15 (39)
GOALS – Gisborne: Jack Rutten, Jye Zerafa 2, Charlie Ozanne, Marcus Trakosas. Golden Square: Archie Eaton, Liam Hanley, Lachlan Ross, James Wilkinson.
BEST – Gisborne: August Stelma, Jack Rutten, Baden Dickins, Campbell Johns, Lachlan Evans, James Bullen. Golden Square: Riley Dillon, Jesse Gill, Melvic Pambai, Bailey Warfe, Lincoln McKern, Oliver Eaton.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval, View Street:
Sportspower under-18s at 9.15am: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
Drummond Golf reserves at 11.50am: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
Bendigo Bank seniors at 2.20pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst
