Sport
16 September, 2024
Tigers claim back-to-back flags after low scoring grand final with Bulls
The wrap from a big NCFL 2024 grand final day at Donald
Sea Lake-Nandaly is again the kings of the NCFL after defeating rivals Birchip-Watchem by 13 points in Saturday's grand final at Donald.
The Tigers' 7.5 (47) to 4.10 (34) triumph is the second time in as many years they have climbed the mountain.
It was a game played in horrendous conditions, with the wind pushing straight across the ground towards the non-clubrooms side of Donald Recreation Reserve.
A two-goal apiece opening term was the Bull's best of the afternoon before the Tigers gained ascendency in the second stanza, kicking three goals to one to open up a 12-point buffer by the main break.
Despite a charge in the third quarter by the Bulls, the Tigers still managed to win the stanza by a point before locking the game down in a goalless final term.
"It was pretty tight and hot around the contest early as all grand finals are," Tigers coach Bryce Delmenico said.
"Our main focus for the day was our pressure, and we felt that if we could sustain it, they would eventually drop away because we knew we were the fitter side.
"We pulled away in the second quarter, and through the third, they came back for five to ten minutes.
"Birchip typically gets a pretty big momentum swing each game, but besides that little period, they didn't seem to have that, which was down to our pressure and the conditions.
"We were up by a couple of goals at three-quarter-time and knew we could hold onto that lead if we bottled the game up on the dead side of the ground."
Defender Jack Poulton was awarded best on ground honours.
Poulton and his defensive teammates kept the Bulls to their lowest score of the season.
"The back six was unreal," Delmenico said.
"Not many people were in the know, but Kane Donnan dislocated his shoulder during the first quarter of the semi-final.
"He was understandably pretty sore, which forced us to put Luke Martin on Ben Edwards, and he was superb, keeping him to only one goal.
"Jack (Poulton) was outstanding as well and took ten intercept marks.
"It looks like he's not playing on anyone the majority of the time, but he just reads the footy so well and knows when to leave his man to impact a contest."
Teenager Thomas Cox and big game player Tyson McKenzie were also highly influential.
Meanwhile, Nullawil's final day as a singular entity ended with silverware.
The Maroons reserves side thrashed the Tigers by 34 points.
The Tigers played in all four football grand finals, losing the reserves and under-14s, but triumphed in the under-17s over St Arnaud in a thriller by three points.
In the A grade netball, favourites Wedderburn were too strong for Charlton, triumphing 55-41.
Wycheproof-Narraport's women's hockey side claimed the title in a 3-1 victory over the Saints but couldn't replicate that success in the men's decider, losing to Donald 3-2.
RESULTS:
FOOTBALL:
Under 14s: Sea Lake Nandaly 3.3 (21) It Boort 4.6 (30)
Under 17s: St Arnaud 3.5 (23) It 4.2 (26) Sea Lake Nandaly
Reserves: Nullawil 6.11 (47) def Sea Lake Nandaly 2.1 (13)
Seniors: Birchip-Watchem 4.10 (34) It Sea Lake Nandaly 7.5 (47)
NETBALL:
Under 14s A: Donald 34 def Birchip-Watchem 26
Under 14s B: Birchip-Watchem 29 def St Arnaud 9
Under 17s: Birchip-Watchem 24 It Nullawil 31
C Reserve: Sea Lake Nandaly 53 def Nullawil 35
C Grade: Boort 35 It Nullawil 42
B Grade: Wedderburn 44 def Birchip-Watchem 39
A Grade: Wedderburn 55 def Charlton 41
HOCKEY:
Under 12s: St Arnaud 3 def Birchip-Watchem 1
Underage: St Arnaud 4 def Donald 2
Women: Wycheproof-Narraport 3 def St Arnaud 1
Men: Donald 3 def Wycheproof-Narraport 2