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[b]CANNONS AND BUSHRANGERS WIN THROUGH TO GRAND FINAL [/b]
Calder Cannons and Murray Bushrangers have won their Preliminary Finals at MC Labour Park today to win through to the TAC Cup Grand Final to be played at the MCG next Saturday Morning.
In the 1st game today Calder dominated in general play in the 1st quarter but couldn't put on the scoreboard and when a couple of late goals by the Knights gave them a 2 point quarter time lead.
The Knights then dominated the 2nd quarter through their expierenced players Matt Kreuzer and Trent Cotchins as well as Patrick Veszpremi helped the Knights to a 6 goal to 4 quarter and a 17 point half time lead.
In the 3rd quarter the Cannons got back into the game with a 6 goals to 3 quarter with a late goal giving them the lead by 4 points at the last change. German, Trengove and Polkinghorne were dominated helping to shut down the Knights big guns.
With everything on the line it was the Cannons that got away kicking the 1st 2 goals to get a break but the Knights continued to fight even as they were running at of legs. When Trent Cotchin went off injured late in the final quarter it looked like the Knights were gone but they managed to get the margin within 7 points witha few minutes remaining but a late Cannons goals sealed the Knights fate as Calder went on to win the game by 14 points to advance to the Grand Final.
This is 4th season in a row the Cannons have knocked the Knights out of finals.
[b]Northern Knights[/b] 3.3 9.7 12.7 15.7 (97)
[b]Calder Cannons[/b] 2.7 6.8 12.11 16.15 (111)
[b]GOALS:[/b]
Northern Knights: Bongetti 4 Veszpremi 3 Hurley 2 Meredith 2 Cachia Power Kreuzer Thomas
Calder Cannons: McKernan 3 May 3 Farmer 2 Melksam 2 Putt 2 Joyce Daniher Tsardakis Kite
[b]BEST:[/b]
Northern Knights: Meredith Kreuzer Stanton Hood Hurley Hanchette
Calder Cannons: German Trengove Polkinghorne Dulic May Melksam
In the 2nd game today, The game started with a lot of turnovers as both sides tried to gain the advantage. Murray kicking the only 2 goals of the 1st quarter to lead by 13 points at quarter time.
The 2nd quarter went the same way as the 1st as the teams continued turned the ball over as the Bushrangers outscored the Rebels by 2 goals to 1 to lead by a handy 19 points at half time.
The Rebels came out a lot better in the 3rd quarter kicking the 1st 2 goals to get within a goal of Bushrangers but then Murray answered with 2 goals of their own to lead by 22 points at the final change.
The Rebels needed to kick the 1st goal in the last quarter to get back in the game but it didn't happen as the Bushrangers ran all over the Rebels kicking the 1st 4 goals of the final quarter and eventually run out 40 point winners.
Ashley Hockey and Daniel were the Bushrangers best while Kyle Cheney and Ben Peters were the best for the Rebels.
The TAC Cup Grand Final will be played at the MCG next Saturday 29th September starting at 9:15am. The game will telecast live on Fox Sports from 9am.
[b]Murray Bushrangers 2.6 4.8 6.11 10.13 (73)[/b]
[b]North Ballarat Rebels 0.5 1.7 3.7 4.9 (33)[/b]
[b]GOALS:[/b]
Murray Bushrangers: Hockey 3 McIntyre 2 McEvoy 2 Walker Rockliff Warnett
North Ballarat Rebels: Caldow Radley Austin Delahunty
[b]BEST:[/b]
Murray Bushrangers: Hockey Boyle McEvoy Hebbard Barolli Martiniello
North Ballarat Rebels: Cheney Peters Hinkley Austin Delahunty Caldow