Charlie Kelly was among the best for Nagambie in the loss.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Nagambie’s brilliant Kyabram District League reserves football season has ended in heartbreak, with the minor premier falling to Lancaster in a tightly contested grand final at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
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Despite leading at the first break, the Lakers were ultimately unable to match the Wombats’ second-half surge, succumbing 6.7 (43) to 10.8 (68) by the final siren to go down by 25 points.
It had been a bright start for the Lakers, who booted the opening goal of the contest with brilliant play to score from a stoppage on the wing, moving the ball across the ground and finding Thomas Mason on his own streaming inside 50, before kicking truly to put the first major on the board.
The Wombats would get the goal back, but an Aaron O’Connor goal on the siren would hand the Lakers the lead at the first break, ahead 2.1 (13) to 1.1 (7), and looking ominous.
Jared Keenan was among the better contributors for the Lakers in Saturday’s reserves grand final.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Mitchell Coll would double Nagambie’s advantage early in the second term, too, but it would be the final taste of the lead the Lakers would enjoy all afternoon, as the Wombats pressed hard.
With a four-goal burst, Lancaster overturned the two-goal deficit to then lead by the same margin on the eve of the main break, and while Nagambie managed to break the run with the final major of the half, the Lakers headed into the break behind 4.3 (27) to Lancaster’s 5.1 (31).
The second half saw Lancaster continue to surge, with a three-goal-to-one third quarter proving decisive, opening the Wombats’ lead to 8.4 (52) to 5.6 (36) by the final change, and while not completely out of it, Nagambie needed something special to overturn the 16-point deficit.
Nagambie's Jack Threlfall and Lancaster's Nathan Oliver do battle in the ruck during the reserves grand final.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Jared Keenan looked to provide a spark as he kicked the opener in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to two straight kicks, but the Lakers’ charge fizzled out as the Wombats ran over the top for a 25-point victory.
Aaron O’Connor would finish as the only multiple goalscorer for the Lakers with two majors, while Mason, Charlie Kelly, Keenan, Tyrone Muir, Keenan Shepherd and Jack Threlfall were named the Lakers’ best in the loss.
Wombats playing coach Phil Carroll was awarded the best-on-ground medal in his side’s victory.
