South Cairns will attempt to sweep aside a sorry Saturday and instead focus on a year of improvement at the club after both seniors and reserves lost their preliminary finals at Cazalys on Saturday.
Minor premiers in the seniors, they gave up an early lead in a torrid battle with Port Douglas to lose by 19 points - 12.11-83 to 10.4.64 - the Crocs kicking th elast three goals to edge into the decider.
And the Cutters' reserves were no match for Saints, losing 10.10-70 to 6.9-45 and setting up identical Saints v Crocs finals in both grades this Saturday.
"Aside from this weekend it's been a pretty great season," Souths president Steven Begg said.
"It's unfortunate it had ended this way, but absolutely I'm proud of the guys, they are a good bunch most importantly and hopefully we can keep them around the club.
"From the top to the bottom of the club there is a really good vibe and we'll go and have a bit of a break now and then get back into it next season."
The Crocs were steered home by the electric Damien Willaims (four goals) and in form Anthony Sercombe (five goals), James Mueller was a workhorse in the ruck while Alex Bendle and Declan Kelly stemmed the tide in defence.
South started in a canter with the massive breeze, shooting to a 31-7 advantage onm the back of three first-quarter goals to Paul Smith. Sercombe enjoyed having it at his back in the second, slotting three in a row as his side booted five straight to capture the lead.
The third quarter was crucial for the Crocs, who managed only two points of their own but put the clamps on the Cutters. Needing a big lead at the final break before kicking back into the breeze, South Cairns could only manage two goals to trail by one.
The Sercombe-Williamd combination bobbed up again for majors to start the fourth before goals to Jack Marino and Paul Buller gave Cutters hope with 20 minutes left.
But the tide turned for good, Souths not adding to their score as an elated Port kicked the last three goals of the game to book their first grand final spot since 2010.
Article courtesy of The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 17/09/2014 21:47