THE Coffs Swans have a chance to break the club’s longest premiership drought.
The convincing 28 point victory over Sawtell/Toormina sees the Swans straight through to the grand final with an opportunity to win the club’s first senior premiership since 1999.
Swans playing coach Jay Guthrie admitted to being “pretty stoked” when the final siren sounded.
“Obviously with the club theway that it was last year, I really wanted success for those blokes whov’e been there for the past couple of years and experienced the hard times,” Guthrie said.
“Just to get into the grand final is a huge effort and it’s a great reward for those guys who’ve put in.”
Like most finals, the ground was no place for the faint hearted early but a couple of goals late in the first term gave the Swans a morale boosting 13-point lead at the first break.
Guthrie said late goals were a key factor behind the victory.
“We were able to get a few nice red time goals at the end of quarters and they helped give us momentum going into the next quarter,” he explained.
Guthrie led the way for the Swans up forward kicking four goals but he saved most of his praise for the team’s younger players and its defence.
The multi-pronged Saints attack has put plenty of teams to the sword throughout the season but the Swans’ miserly backline restricted Sawtell/Toormina to only nine goals.
Guthrie was loathe to single out any individuals though.
“I know it’s a cliche but it was a really good team effort,” he said.
“It was one of those days when you’re walking off the ground and you can’t really think of someone who played amazingly better than anybody else. Everybody played their role.”
COFFS SWANS
4.3 7.4 11.6 13.9 (87)
SAWTELL/TOORMINA
2.2 4.3 9.4 9.5 (59)
Goals – Swans: J Guthrie 4, F Duryea 2, J Brown 2, J Lyon 2, R Clayton, M Willcox , P Curtain. Saw: B Foote 3, J Angel 3, A Clarke 2, D Johnson.
Best – Swans: S Gleeson, J Brown, D Bear, M Willcox, P Curtain, F Duryea. Saw: D Johnson, L Benson, A Clarke, J Angel, B Foote, N Johnson.
Reserves: Sawtell/Toormina 9.7 (61) bt Port Macquarie 7.6 (48)
Under-18s: Port Macquarie 14.13 (97) bt Sawtell/Toormina 3.2 (20)
At C.ex Coffs International Stadium
Photo courtesy Rob Wright / Coffs Coast Advocate
Last Modified on 12/08/2014 13:06