BOMADERRY has gained redemption for last year’s heartbreaking South Coast Australian Football League grand final loss with a powerful 11.13 (79) to 6.4 (40) win over Wollongong University Bulldogs at a drenched North Dalton Park on Saturday.
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With both sides coming into the decider on the back of sizzling victories over Kiama Power, the stage was set for a classic grand final clash.
Unfortunately, the weather gods intervened, with rain soaking the ground overnight and transforming the match into a hard-fought grind on a lush and heavy surface.
Leading the way for the Tigers was Luke Sargent, who was crowned official man of the match after a sublime showing, while Uni’s Aaron Jackson kicked four goals.
Despite Bomaderry captain-coach Matt Cace admitting post-match that he believed the conditions suited his opponents more than his side, it was the Tigers that handled the difficult surroundings far better.
Uni would have been hoping to get off to a fast start to remove any nerves in their maiden first grade decider, but those hopes were quickly extinguished as Bomaderry raced to a 23-1 quarter time advantage.
The Uni underdogs looked to be in early trouble, although they hit back to take the second stanza 17-12 to stay in the game.
Just as it appeared the Dogs were about to make a serious charge, Bomaderry took full control in the third term, shutting out Uni to the
tune of 28-nil in a dominant quarter.
A genuine thrashing looked on the cards at 63-18 at the final break, but Uni finished like they had played all year, with plenty of courage and a never-say-die attitude ensuring an improved final scoreline.
This was truly a victory to savour for Cace and his troops, who had battled with numbers and consistency earlier in the year to eventually grab second place on the ladder and yet another flag.
“The conditions weren’t fantastic, but at the end of the day, it was our tenacity and our endeavour that won us the game,” Cace said.
“The loss from last year was in the back of a few blokes’ minds and nobody took a backward step, everybody just stood up for us today.”
Uni captain-coach Lee Murray was quick to praise the class of the Bomaderry side and also paid tribute for the superb effort by the Wollongong club to secure a grand final berth in its first grade debut season.
“We gave them all we had, but it wasn’t good enough on the day,” he said.
“Bomaderry were just too classy, too well-drilled and too good.
“We have had a great season though, to make a grand final the first time we’ve had a first grade team is a massive effort and hopefully we’ll be able to build on that next year.”
Bomaderry 11.13 (79) d Wollongong University 6.4 (40)
Goals:
Bomaderry: Lucas Bailey 2, Luke Sargent, Tim Craig, Andrew Mazey, Jordan Mathews, Luke Hogan, Peter Lake, Andrew Ellis.
Uni: Aaron Jackson 4, Noel Gordan, Lee Murray.
Best:
Bomaderry: Andrew Mazey, Rick Dorey, Travis Chamberlain, Tim Craig, Andrew Lee.
Uni: Aaron Jackson, Andrew Glendenning, Lachlan Pound, Scott Enever.
• Pictorial covergae of the grand final will appear in Friday’s South Coast Register
