ULTIMA will play in a fourth consecutive Golden Rivers Football League grand final after the two-time reigning premiers defeated Murrabit by 20 points in Saturday’s second semi-final.
The loss leaves the Blues needing to defeat Nullawil this weekend in the preliminary final for a fifth crack at Ultima this season.
The Blues started brightly, with an early goal to key forward Leigh McCombe within the first minute, but the Roos were able to answer with key forward Basil Althouse able to mark well.
Simon Ettershank and Ben Mahon both received a yellow card for a scuffle, and the Roos continued to score freely, gaining a 19-point lead at quarter time.
Murrabit then had its turn with the breeze, and looked dangerous when they had opportunity down forward, with McCombe goaling again, with the sides on level terms after coach, Nathan Henry kicked his first.
Ultima’s defence was struggling to contain Murrabit’s talls, and could not get the ball into its forward half, as Blues onballers Nathan Brown and Tom Holdstock became more involved in the game with their effective ball use.
Murrabit held a six-point lead at the main break, but a six-goal to one third quarter saw the Roos lead by 24 points with one term to play.
Murrabit just couldn’t stem the flow of goals and it was the last 10 minutes of the quarter that really hurt them in the outcome of the game.
The Blues made a surge kicking with the scoring end in the final term and looked as if they were giving the Roos.
McCombe lifted the side in the last term, finishing with five of the side’s 10 goals and giving a physical presence in the forward line.
Brown reduced the margin to less than one kick with 15 minutes to go, with the side receiving a boost when Dwayne Hamlyn was yellow carded for a high hit.
However, as good sides do, Ultima found a way to win. Coach Jack O’Rourke had a couple of telling touches that were vital in the result.
He goaled from deep in the forward pocket to give the Roos a two-goal lead, and had a hand in the last goal, setting up Isma’s third to seal the deal.
