South Alice Springs beat Pioneer in thrilling CAFL Round 9 face-off
South Alice Springs triumphed in a thrilling grand final rematch, despite losing a key player from their forward line. Read all the latest CAFL action here.
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South Alice Springs held off a late charge from reigning CAFL premier Pioneer to win their Round 9 clash by three points.
Saturday night’s second vs third game at Traeger Park had all the elements of a cutthroat final in a frantic last quarter when Pioneer came from five goals down to almost snatch a win.
The 13.5 (83) to 12.8 (80) scoreline echoed a contest where Souths were on top for three quarters before a barnstorming finish from Pioneer turned the game on its ear.
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Souths had plenty of good players in the first three quarters, Jamal Lynch across half forward, Keiffen Turner at full back and midfielders Deacon Braun, Dom Forbes and Bradley Turner finding plenty of the football.
The bad news for Souths was a knee injury to leading goalkicker Thomas Gorey that forced him to leave the ground in the third term.
Roos coach Chris Forbes was not overly concerned with the Pioneer comeback, saying the Eagles had been his side’s main rival for a long time because of their class and never-say-die attitude.
“It was a typical Souths-Pioneer game, they are always close despite what the margin might get out to during the match,’’ he said.
“We’re determined to go one better that last season when we lost the grand final to Pioneer, but a lot depends on us getting everyone on the park together.
“I’ve always had faith in my playing group and in our case if we lose one soldier we can bring in another one and its worked out pretty well so far.’’
Souths meet runaway ladder leaders Federal at Traeger Park next Saturday in what will be a mid-season test for both sides.
Pioneer’s captain Cheyne Miles said the time clock had beaten his side when they were playing their best football of the match.
“We got a rev from the coaches Willie Foster and Matt Campbell at three quarter-time that pumped us up and we nearly got over the line when the time ran out,’’ Miles said.
“Missing two weeks in a row through the week off for Finke and a bye probably worked against us this week, but we should regroup for Rovers next week in what is a big game.’’
Federal had to work hard to beat a determined West Alice Springs in Saturday afternoon’s game at Traeger Park.
The winless Wests came with a nothing to lose attitude and made the Federal players earn every kick, mark and handball in a fighting 12.6 (78) to 5.4 (34) loss that must have pleased their coaching staff.
Federal again got good service from midfielder Robby Bartee, who must be firming in betting for the league’s Minahan Medal, awarded annually to the best player in the Senior Men’s competition.
Caylan Laporta up forward, Ben Semmier-Farr in the ruck and Max Duffell down back were other good contributors in Federal’s seventh win in as many starts this season.
Playing coach Sam Laporta paid credit to Wests post-match, saying they had improved in several areas since the two sides met in Round 4 when Federal won by 116 points.
“They made it really tough for us today, which is good because you don’t want to beat teams by 150 points all the time,’’ Laporta said.
“We’re at the halfway point of the season and I’m still asking for improvement every week, that’s all I can ask for after seven straight wins which any coach would take of course.’’
Laporta played down any talk of a premiership season despite his side’s barnstorming start in a bid to snap a seven-year drought since silverware arrived on the club’s doorstep.
Federal plays Souths in Round 10 before a bye and four games in succession leading into the finals, including matches against fellow finalists Pioneer, Rovers and Souths again in the last minor round clash.
The Senior Women’s competition resumes on Saturday after a week’s bye when the unbeaten Alkamilya meet Wests at Traeger Park in an 11.30am game.
The Community Men’s competition returns on Sunday, July 23 when five matches will be played at Yuendumu, Hermannsburg and Santa Teresa.
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