Crib Point flashes home to catch Rye on the line in Nepean preliminary

CRIB Point to take on Sorrento in grand final after storming home to defeat Rye in Nepean Football League preliminary final

Nepean league football preliminary final between Crib Point and Rye at Hastings. Crib Point #15 David Cook under pressure from Rye #15 Leigh Morse. Picture: Chris Eastman

A LAST-quarter surge has helped Crib Point snatch a one-point win over Rye in the Nepean league preliminary final on Saturday.

The Magpies were 28 points behind at three quarter time but booted 7.3 to Rye’s 2.3 in the final stanza to win 15.15 (105) to 15.14 (104) — and secure their first grand final berth in 13 years.

Brad Davidson’s goal on the run from the boundary with less than two minutes to go put Crib Point in front.

Rye had a late chance to regain the lead, but Brady Egan’s shot missed.

Crib Point forward Jonathan Flack booted five goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Dean Kairies, Dean Warry, Sam Austin and Zak Dekleuver also were key contributors for the Magpies.

Rye’s best were Leigh Morse, Ryan Semmel, Luke Semmel and Ben Holmes, who slotted five goals.

Rye’s Adam Kirkwood. Picture: Chris Eastman

Crib Point coach Duane Annable said he knew his Magpies would finish fast.

“We’ve done it a couple of times this year but, yeah, it was pretty freakish by the boys,” he said.

“We knew Rye had one day less break than us so we thought they’d slow up to a point. That was what three quarter time was about.

“We got a couple of early ones, got a bit of a roll on. I think we hit the front with one minute and 40 seconds to go.’’

Crib Point will meet Sorrento in the grand final at Hastings on Saturday.

While Sorrento is used to the intense pressure of the flag decider, having played in the past six, it will be a new experience for Crib Point, which hasn’t been to the “big dance’’ since winning the 2001 flag.

Annable has anointed his Magpies “underdogs’’ but says they are full of character and can pull it off.

“As long as we are competitive and within striking distance then we will give ourselves a every chance because we have a lot of heart,’’ he said.

Amid the excitement of Saturday’s win, Annable told his players “that’s not our grand final today’’ and ordered them to focus on next week. “We have to keep a lid on it, refresh, reload and try and grab this chance because they don’t come around very often,’’ he said.

Crib Point midfielder Sam Austin boots the Magpies forward. Picture: Chris Eastman

Annable played in Cribby’s last flag in ’01 and coached the club when it last made the finals, in ’04.

The Nepean league finals series has been full of excitement and close games. Three, two, one ... that’s been the winning margins in the qualifying, elimination and preliminary finals.

GRAND Final day, Saturday, September 20, at Hastings:

Seniors: Sorrento v Crib Point.

Reserves: Somerville v Devon Meadows.

Under 18s: Rosebud v Mt Eliza.