FAST FINISH TOO MUCH FOR THE RED' n' BLACKS

Old Brighton beat Old Xaverians in their second semi-final clash at Elsternwick, running away with it in the final term to take the expressway to the big dance. It was the Tonners' fifth victory in a row against the Red 'n' Blacks, who will face another tough contest next Saturday against Old Scotch.

Xavs, wearing their clash strip, had the best of the early going and the reliable Bobby Knott opened proceedings at five minutes with a goal from the arc. Sam Hansen and Nick Guiney were in everything as the X-men provided relentless pressure on the minor premier. Brighton broke their duck after a failed clearance, Xavs went forward from the kick-in and Julian Gangi snapped a left foot goal after a glorious slap on from the tightly-checked Charlie MacIsaac.

At 15 minutes, Stirling Phipps-Parsons laid a great tackle and passed off to Campbell Lane, who kicked truly from 35 metres. The Tonners finally got on the board with a free kick from the boundary arc after a Xavs foray had come unstuck. Xavs went forward from the restart but missed a tough one. And then a minute later, missed a gimme. Brighton benefited from some careless handball and booted their second at 25 minutes. At 28 minutes, the minor premiers scored again with a sleek trip forward.

It was the Tonners who looked the more assured early in the second. The Xavs’ defence was under pressure but holding firm. The X-Men attacked, but fell short, but pushed forward again at nine minutes. Marcus Stavrou kicked truly and the X-Men were out by a goal. The Tonners slid forward and missed. Xavs applied the pressure but couldn’t find forward targets in a crowded forward line. Their eleven-minute purple patch produced plenty of promise but nothing by way of dividend.  Instead, Old Brighton kicked a goal and took a one-point lead. Seizing on a turnover, Brighton threatened again. But it was Phipps-Parsons who ran into an open goal after a long torpedo from Hansen gave the speedster the chance to turn on the after-burners.

Xavs went to the break with a four-point lead. They had developed some advantage in the ruck through Alec Spralja, mainly in the ball-ups, but the other aerial duels were going Brighton’s way. The Red ‘n Blacks were lacking the forward marking that had spurred so many victories during the season.

Brighton went forward, Xavs repelled and attacked. The drive ended with a goal to Denis Symeopoulos at two minutes. The Tonners responded four minutes later. The pressure at both ends was evident as the game continued at a hot pace. Ed Delany marked on a lead and kicked Xavs eight points clear at 14 minutes. At 16 minutes, the Tonners scored a lucky one off the carpet when the X-Men failed to clear. A Phipps-Parsons tackle sent his opponent and himself to the treatment rooms. Play stopped while the Tonner player was stretchered off.

Xavs defended stoutly for the minutes following the resumption, with Hamish MacIsaac prominent. A Xavs attack died on the line and the Beach Boys went all the way down the ground to kick a goal and regain the lead at 28 minutes. Then the X-Men went coast to coast, and Gangi left-footed his second after a chain of handballs. Xavs by a point. And then Brighton levelled it at 31 minutes. Right on the siren the ball sailed through the uprights but the men in green saw the faint touch. The Tonners led by a point at the lemons in a crackerjack game.

The success of Old Brighton’s season had been spurred by its last quarters, of which it had won seventeen of eighteen. Xavs had been no slouches either, winning a couple of close ones late in the piece.

It was Brighton who goaled in the first minute and the slope became just a little steeper for Dan Donati’s men. Another Brighton score, but just a minor. A Gangi tackle produced a near miss at four minutes. At nine minutes, Bobby Knott hit the post with a bomb from a tight angle. But the Tonners went forward and goaled again to take a two-goal lead at 11 minutes. The momentum was with the Beach Boys and their pressure in their forward line was making clearances difficult. But clear it they did, and once again, it was Gangi on the end of the chain with his third goal on the run.  Eight points in it, fifteen gone. But at 18 minutes, a stalled drive caused by a turnover saw the Tonners snap what looked to be the decider.

But there was more to come. Brighton’s Felix Flockhart, best man on the ground with an almost perfect game as a ruckman, marked and goaled. And then the Tonners landed another at 29 minutes. They’d booted 12 goals to six after the X-Men’s dominant start.  Then, on the siren, another Brighton goal made for a 33-point victory, which they deserved, given the disparity in scoring shots.

The defence battled bravely all afternoon and did well to keep the Tonners under the century. When the Xavs found space, they looked good, though many promising attacks were stopped by a tight and accomplished Brighton defence.

BEST: Alex Trigar, Thomas Dunne, Connor Dunne, Hamish MacIsaac, Julian Gangi, Charlie Knott

GOALS: Gangi 3, Campbell Lane 1, Marcis Stavrou 1, Stirling Phipps-Parsons 1, Denis Symeopoulos 1, Bobby Knott 1, Ed Delany 1

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CARDS TAKE DOWN SKOBBERS

Old Scotch led from start to finish at Sandringham in their first semi-final against St Kevin's and their win was never in doubt beyond half-time. Now, the reigning premier fronts up to Old Xaverians, who have beaten them twice already this season. A ticket to the finals is not backed by any guarantee, and the Prelim clash should be intense.

CAULFIELD RETURNS TO PREMIER

Caulfield Grammarians upset minor premier Old Ivanhoe in the Premier B preliminary final and will return to the top tier next year. The Hoes lost to Old Trinity last week and will be bittely disappointed in their straight sets exit. Old friend Paul Satterley, Caulfield's coach, will next year coach his fourth Premier club in eight seasons.