PORT Macquarie’s unlikely premiership defence continues to gather momentum.
After a slow start to the season, the reigning premiers are now only one win away from a grand final berth after proving too classy for Grafton.
The Magpies kicked the first three goals of the match in quick time and were never seriously threatened from that point on to draw away to a 35-point victory.
The margin could have been even greater if not for inaccurate kicking for goal.
Adam Eckermann booted five majors for the Magpies. The defending premiers will now take on the loser of this Saturday’s major semi-final clash between Sawtell Saints and Coffs Swans.
The Tigers were best served by Sam Morrison and Mark Blundell, who each kicked three goals.
But they struggled to reel in the Magpies as a lack of fitness and preparation became evident.
“We struggled all year for numbers at training and that was what probably cost us on the day,” Grafton president Rod Sheather said. “We didn’t get quality numbers for the past two weeks and that showed on Saturday.
“A few players carried injuries into the game, Port got the jump on us in the first quarter and we never quite recovered.”
Sheather said Port had improved during the season but stopped short of saying they would raise the premiership cup.
“Port came good after they picked up a few recruits, but Sawtell will be the team to beat,” he said.
PORT MACQUARIE
5.3 9.9 12.12 13.18 (96)
GRAFTON
2.1 4.3 7.3 9.7 (61)
Goals - Port: A Eckermann 5, S Dickson 2, K Lynch 2, J Schmidt 2, I Brambley, T Bauer. Graf: M Blundell 3, S Morrison 3, S Duroux, M Cowland, J Lollback.
Best - Port: I Brambley, S Dickson, A Eckermann, J Schmidt, J Smith, S Todd. Graf: M Cowland, R Davis, D Zacek, R Sheather, S Morrison, B Holder.
RESERVES: Camden Haven 6.10 (46) def Coffs Swans 4.2 (26)
UNDER-18S: Coffs Swans 19.13 (127) def Macleay Valley 6.5 (41)
Last Modified on 08/08/2014 12:47