SUPERIOR fitness enabled Koondrook Barham to run the game out better than a gallant Tooleybuc Manangatang in Saturday’s reserves grand final.
In a physical encounter, fierce tackling was the order of the day from the first moment of play and that attitude, although commendable, was energy sapping for the players as the day warmed.
The first score of the game was a goal from the boot of Raiders utility Will Membrey and to witness his celebrations was worth the entry fee alone.
That goal came just 30 seconds into the match and most would have assumed that a fairly high-scoring affair might be on offer but that was not to be the case.
Most of the first term resembled a rolling mall as the play consisted of stoppage after stoppage so determined were both camps on giving nothing in the way of open space.
The first quarter ambled to a finish with the Raiders holding an 11-point advantage as the Saints had not troubled the scorer.
Into the second term however and it was the Saints who were well and truly up and about as Tim Walder, Lucas Hoare, Cole Templeton and Jayden Gladman put their hands up to lift their side.
While the Raiders had some particularly willing competitors in Dean Gogoll, Michael Hood, Nathan O’Toole and Jake Sullivan in the ruck, it was their turn to go missing on the scoreboard.
The Raiders added only one solitary behind for the term, while the Saints turned their form around and slammed on three goals to hit the front going to the long break.
This advantage allowed them to score five goals for the term while once again the tiring Saints outfit could manage only two six-pointers
Darcy Grant had been a fine contributor for the Raiders for the whole game but he was one that really turned it on in that vital final term along with Sullivan, who carried the ruck duties admirably.
The River Raiders were justifiably jubilant as they brought a premiership trophy home to their proud club.
Tooleybuc Manangatang was gallant in defeat and will live to fight another day. They are a club steeped in history and contributed to a great finals series.
