Boisdale Briagolong is through to the grand final of the East Gippsland Football Netball League reserves competition after defeating a persistent Lucknow in the qualifying final at the Bairnsdale City Oval.
The Bombers will be hoping they can redeem grand final losses to Wy Yung (2023) and Lucknow (2024).
It was a low-scoring affair played in blustery conditions, with the sides kicking just seven goals between them.
Ultimately it was the Magpies’
inability to score a goal in the first half which was the difference between victory and defeat.
A close match was expected between the two combatants with the much-anticipated fixture earlier in the season abandoned after Jack Bull broke his leg, and the return clash offering up a Lucknow win (41-40) – the Bombers’ only loss for the season.
Both sides had quality players in the line ups – a combination of an overflow of depth from having a good senior side and the inability to fit players into the line up because of the AFL Victoria points system.
Scott Joustra and Jarrad Neilson looked a tantalising match in the ruck, perennial reserves goalkicker Danny Pratt was being marked by Lucknow club record holder Leigh Stephenson, while not far away Bomber premiership hero Toby Leeds was doing battle with the flexible Jessie Pescod who is a victim of the points system.
Pratt kicked the first for the Bombers, before Shaun Ryan (two goals) had a couple of chances but couldn’t convert for the Magpies, one following a great pass from the talented Damian Hodder.
Leeds, another talented premiership player Callan Egan and Pratt all missed for Boisdale, the latter after Khai Collins’ attempt at a mark of the year contender saw him not touch the ball.
The wind was strong and Lucknow was struggling to find a target coming out against the breeze as its defence, led by Stephenson and Andrew Papp, worked hard against the odds.
A collision of friendly fire between Josh Neille and Cal McGowan had the crowd up and roaring.
Egan, with a class finish from a
stoppage, finally broke the run of behinds as the Bombers led by 13 points at quarter time.
Magpie coach Chris Johnson was happy with his side’s effort against the breeze, directing his side to go long and direct in the second term to Ryan.
He also reminded players to check in with their opponent occasionally, asking Jack Kennedy to be more attacking.
The second quarter was played primarily between the arcs and on the dead side of the ground, which suited Boisdale. With only two scores registered they increased their advantage to 18 points.
Boisdale chose to play Leeds at the one end all day, the laconic character complaining post match it wasn’t good for his GPS numbers.
Pescod eventually joined him at
that end, reversing the roles from the first term.
Boisdale’s first inside 50 didn’t eventuate until the nine-minute mark, the Magpies dominating play but not making any scoreboard impact. There were massive patches of the quarter where no player was inside the forward 50 for the Bombers.
Papp was a rock across half back for Lucknow, either by clearing or spoiling, as the amount of time the ball spent between the light tower and old scoreboard continued to accumulate.
Pratt marked in the forward pocket, but his kick held up in the breeze resulting in no score.
Stoppages continued to grow as Leeds and Egan worked hard making life difficult for Ryan and Aiden Southen.
Jack Osborn’s goal for the Bombers was the only one for the term as the end drew near. It was a kick in the guts for Lucknow which had worked hard without reward.
Bombers coach Ryan Peel encouraged his side to make every post a winner in the third term and to put the game out of reach of the Magpies.
Johnson was seething as his side gave up free kicks for undisciplined acts, telling his side in no uncertain terms that culprits would be coming to the bench.
The third term yielded a goal apiece as the Magpies got their first major. The Bombers had other chances but they were wayward.
Pratt and Judd Van Sluys missed early attempts as the Magpies lifted, gaining considerable more forays their side of centre, but most went the way of Egan, who held firm taking eight marks for the term.
There was a hush as Cody Bates came roaring through for the Bombers missing the lot as Ryan finally got Lucknow on the board.
Neilson was on top in the ruck and was proving handy playing a kick behind the play, cleverly finding Ty Ruthberg who made the margin 21 points at half time as the Bombers, led by Ethan Kincaid Shingles, Nathan Sellings and the inspired Egan, withstood everything the Magpies threw at them.
Pescod went into the ruck in the
final term and he gave the Magpies a
lift as they kicked two unanswered goals in the final term to go down by just nine points.
Blake Davis converted early after an illegal shepherd, before Ryan kicked truly after he was found by Pescod.
Neille was unlucky not to be pinged for holding the ball shortly after in the 10 metre square as the Magpies tried to pull off an unlikely victory.
Bates took a Leo Barry-like mark as the clock ticked down, as Hodder headed to the interchange holding his troublesome hamstring, the Magpies not able to get close enough in the final frantic minutes to fully test the Bombers.
Best for the Bombers were Egan, Kincaid-Shingles, Neilson, Sellings, Leeds and Mitch Semmens, while for the Magpies they got great efforts from Pescod, Collins, Papp, Stephenson, Ryan and Sam Cicala.
Boisdale Briagolong will enjoy a much-needed appreciated week off while Lucknow will face an eliminator against Stratford, who impressed on Sunday, the winner hoping to deny ultimate Bomber glory for the third successive year.
