JEPARIT-RAINBOW has won its first reserves premiership in the Horsham District league.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The side was too strong for Harrow-Balmoral, winning Saturday’s grand final 36 to 23.
The Storm struck first early in the first quarter, bagging two straight goals.
But the Southern Roos quickly got themselves back in the game with two majors of their own.
A deliberate out of bounds near Harrow-Balmoral's goal resulted in a goal chance about halfway through the quarter, but the snap went across the face and out of bounds on the other side.
The Storm also had their chances, with the ball locked in their forward 50 for much of the second half of the quarter, but could only manage minor scores.
A set shot after the siren gave the Storm a chance to go further in front, but it failed to make the distance.
SEE MORE: ULTIMATE MEGA GALLERY OF THE DAY
At the first break it was Jeparit-Rainbow leading by four points.
James Crowhurst had a chance to get the Storm's first of the second quarter from a set shot deep in the pocket, but it missed everything.
A stalemate then ensued for much of the quarter, with neither team able to gain ascendancy.
At the main break the Storm was ahead by three.
The third quarter picked up exactly where the first half left off, with neither team able to hit the scoreboard.
Rain and wind were making for very slippery conditions.
But finally, Jeparit-Rainbow broke through for a major at the nine-minute mark of the quarter for their third goal of the match.
They then kicked another to push the margin out to 16 points.
The ball spent much of the rest of the quarter in the Storm’s forward half, and they went into the final break leading 4.6 30 to 2.2 14.
The Southern Roos came out with a point to prove in the fourth, kicking a goal just a minute in to pull the margin back to 10.
It was manic in the 10 minutes that followed, with neither team registering a score.
Finally Harrow-Balmoral has an opportunity, but the kick goes through for a point.
Another two followed before the ball got back into Storm’s forward 50 and they snap a goal just before time-on to seal the win.
Storm’s Clyde Simpson won the best on ground medal.
Jeparit-Rainbow coach Marcus Hiscock said he was pleased with the way his side was able to stamp their authority on the match in the second half.
“We got on top early and we kept them scoreless when they were kicking with the breeze,” he said.
“We played the better brand of football for longer, and if you do that in a grand final you’re normally going to win.”
Hiscock said a number of changes to his team’s line-up this week provided a boost.
“We had about six changes from when we played them two weeks ago with our seniors going out of the finals, so that freed up a few blokes to come back to reserves,” he said.
“Having the likes of Justin Cozens, Jayden Werner and Simon Clugston around really boosts your side. And having someone like Tim Inkster leading the way up forward for the boys is great.
“This premiership means a lot to our club – it’s the first in our history with the Horsham District league, so everyone is fairly well stoked.”
Scoreboard
Jeparit-Rainbow 2.4, 2.5, 4.6, 5.6 (36)
Harrow-Balmoral 2.0, 2.2, 2.2, 3.5 (23)
Goals
Jeparit-Rainbow: Nathan Jensz 1, Simon Clugston 1, Liam Preston 1, Tim Inkster 1, Justin Cozens 1.
Harrow-Balmoral: Damian Van Someren 1, Timothy Crick 1, Quentin Willmott 1.
Best
Jeparit-Rainbow: Jayden Werner, Justin Cozens, Mathew Millward, Liam Preston, Clyde Simpson, Matthew Thomas.
Harrow-Balmoral: Angus Dundon, Ben Deutscher, Charlie Stewart, Thomas Jagger, Will Staude, Lachlan Stevenson.