HORSHAM Saints held off a fast-finishing Horsham side on Saturday, claiming a nail-biting six-point result to progress to the Wimmera Football League grand final.
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The Saints were full of running for the majority of the second semi-final clash at Nhill’s Davis Park, but had to withstand a late Demon charge in the final term.
The Saints held Horsham goal-less in the opening term and kicked two themselves to lead by 12 points at the first break, but inaccuracy in the second and third quarters and some good work from Simon Hobbs and Jack Mentha ensured the Demons went into half-time just eight points adrift.
The match opened up after half-time, as the Saints put the foot down.
Demon Beau Nelson was taken from the ground after a heavy knock in the centre – he returned to play out the rest of the clash – while Harry Young was taken to hospital with concussion.
The Saints kicked four goals on the bounce to lead at one stage by 31 points, before a helpful major from Joel Geue cut the margin to 26 at three-quarter-time.
Both coaches implored their troops to keep fighting in the final stanza, and the ensuing slog was proof of what the clash meant to both sides.
It took thirteen minutes of the final term for any side to register a goal – and when Horsham did so – they were able to string two together in less than two minutes to ignite the contest.
Luke Carr found himself in the right spot at the 24-minute mark, crumbing beautifully and steering home another to bring the deficit to just seven.
The Saints engaged in damage control and did well to hold the Demons up in a frantic final few minutes.
Billy Carberry had a set shot to bring the margin under a goal, but his attempt slid right.
Tension was obvious as whispers of a potential draw were heard around Davis Park but the Saints were able to hang on to secure a berth in the season decider.
Saints coach Shayne Breuer lauded his side’s effort for an extended period on Saturday, but said missed chances allowed the Demons to claw their way back into the contest.
“I was really pleased with our intensity. I thought it was fantastic,” he said.
“But a few things like our ball use really let us down.
“I thought we had a fair bit of the ball but just didn’t use it that well.
“We missed a few opportunities and there were some shots on goal we didn’t kick that probably kept them in the game a little bit.”
Breuer credited the Demons for their ability to get back into the match late, but praised the Saints’ ability to close it out.
“They kept coming, to their credit, and we always knew they were going to do that,” he said.
“But I thought our boys fought it out really well and our intensity for four quarters was great.”
Sam Jasper and Andrew Devereaux sustained ankle injuries throughout the match for the Saints, while Sam Clyne was concussed early in the match.
The Saints will use the week off to nurse the trio – and others – back to full fitness.
In other second semi-final matches, Ararat progressed to grand finals in both the under-14 and under-17 competitions, beating Stawell and Horsham Saints respectively.
Minyip-Murtoa beat the Saints in their reserves clash to move to the big dance.
Scores:
Seniors:
HORSHAM SAINTS v. HORSHAM DEMONS
Semi Finals Semi Final 2 - 05/09/2015
Horsham Saints 2.2, 3.6, 9.8, 9.10 (64)
Horsham Demons 0.2, 2.4, 5.6, 8.10 (58)
GOALS, Horsham Saints :
Andrew Devereaux 2, Kyle O'Connor 2, Heath Watson 1, Patrick Knott 1, Samuel Clyne 1, Thomas Pain 1,
Nathan Byrne 1
Horsham Demons :
Joel Geue 3, Jack Mentha 2, Simon Hobbs 1, Luke Carr 1, Darcy Taylor 1
BEST, Horsham Saints :
Thomas Pain, Patrick Knott, Jacob O'Beirne, Ryan Bird, Fergus O'Connor, Garry Hallam
Horsham Demons :
Ben Lakin, Bradley Hartigan, Billy Carberry, Rhona Conboy, Jeremy Hartigan, Luke Carr
Wimmera Football League Reserves
HORSHAM SAINTS v. MINYIP MURTOA BURRAS
Semi Finals Semi Final 2 - 05/09/2015
Minyip Murtoa Burras 2.3, 5.6, 9.11, 13.11 (89)
Horsham Saints 3.3, 7.3, 7.4, 10.5 (65)
GOALS, Minyip Murtoa Burras :
Brent Hudson 4, Jason Matthews 2, Lachlan Jordan 1, Dan Clark 1, Mitchell Delahunty 1, Daniel Schache 1,
Chris Delahunty 1, Daniel Smith 1, Corey Morgan 1
Horsham Saints :
Jake McIntyre 3, Justtin Combe 2, Jack Peachey 1, Heath Kelm 1, Cameron Dempster 1, James Wills 1,
Joel Richards 1
BEST, Minyip Murtoa Burras :
Nathan Tepper, Brent Hudson, David Byrne, Daniel Schache, Daniel Smith, Max Koschmann
Horsham Saints :
Bowen Friend, Heath Kelm, Cameron Dempster, Jake McIntyre, James Wills, Justin Amor
MATCH REPORT:
Wimmera Football League U/17
HORSHAM SAINTS v. ARARAT RATS
Semi Finals Semi Final 2 - 05/09/2015
Ararat Rats 2.3, 6.9, 8.11, 12.15 (87)
Horsham Saints 5.2, 5.3, 8.7, 8.10 (58)
GOALS, Ararat Rats :
Harrison Cronin 3, Tom Mills 3, Grady Slocombe 2, Ben Boatman 1, Liam Arnott 1, Samuel Summers 1,
Riley Taylor 1
Horsham Saints :
Zachary Featherstone 3, James Lang 2, Connor O'Beirne 1, Jack Butler 1, Thomas Berry 1
BEST, Ararat Rats :
Harrison Cronin, Chris Wilson, Tom Mills, Patrick Bell, Jake Morgan, Charlie White
Horsham Saints :
Taylor Whitworth, Oliver Timms, Connor O'Beirne, Hugh Gove, Cooper Bateson, Kieren Priestley
MATCH REPORT:
Wimmera Football League U/14
ARARAT RATS v. STAWELL WARRIORS
Semi Finals Semi Final 2 - 05/09/2015
Ararat Rats 0.3, 2.4, 4.6, 6.8 (44)
Stawell Warriors 0.3, 2.3, 4.5, 4.5 (29)
GOALS, Ararat Rats :
Flynn Jamieson 2, Cooper Heard 1, Logan McKinnis 1, Baydn Cosgriff 1, Dylan Woods 1
Stawell Warriors :
Jacob Lowe 1, Caleb Bretherton 1, Beau Simmons 1, Aiden Graveson 1
BEST, Ararat Rats :
Cody Lindsay, Rhiley McKinnis, Matthew Spalding, Scotty Cocking, Mason McLaren, Will Hamilton
Stawell Warriors :
Jayden Wright, Nathan Churchill, Cooper Reading, Rody Ika, Bailey Taylor, Zachary Jenkinson