THE Calder United Lions broke Birchip-Watchem’s unbeaten run on Saturday to be first into the Goldacres North Central footy senior grand final.
The Lions and Bulls met in the second semi-final at Boort Park.
An unbeaten run by the Ash Connick-coached Birchip-Watchem in the home-and-away series included wins against Calder United by two and 42 points.
Formed by the merger of Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport the new-look Calder United Lions has marked its first season with a grand final appearance.
On second semi-final day it was the Lions who raced to a 30-1 lead by quarter-time.
In a superb start, Mitch Farmer kicked consecutive goals as Dale Pearce and Matt Wade were also on target.
When Farmer slotted his third in the 24th minute the Lions led 30-1.
Birchip-Watchem broke the deadlock through century goalkicker Ben Edwards in the fifth minute of the second quarter.
Back-to-back goals by Dale Pearce put the Lions well in control.
Lachy Foot kicked the Bulls second of the contest, but Pearce replied less than five minutes later.
By half-time a Lions team coached by Darryl Wilson, non-playing, and Jordan Humprheys, playing, led 49-14.
Heat rose in the third as the Bulls charged back with goals by Tom Gibson and then two by Rhona Conboy to trail 49-33.
The classy Zane Keighran goaled for the Lions, but the Bulls replied through Tom Gibson less than two minutes later.
A Jack Marlais goal meant Calder United led 63-39 going into the final quarter.
The Bulls kept fighting on and were rewarded with goals by Lachy Foott and Meyrick Buchanan.
Although the Lions were goalless in the last they had done enough to record a 65-54 victory.
Calder United’s attack was led by Dale Pearce with four goals and Mitch Farmer on three.
The Lions also had Zane Keighran, Jack Marlais and Matt Wade on target.
Leading goalkickers for the Bulls were Rhona Conboy, Lachy Foott and Tom Gibson with two each as Meyrick Buchanan and Ben Edwards slotted one each.
Best for Calder United Lions were Daniel Watts, Charlie Fawcett, Oscar Madden, Zane Keighran, Matthew Trzeciak and Matt Wade.
Birchip-Watchem’s best were Ben Lakin, Charlie Frank, Marshall Rippon, Austin Dean, Tom Gibson and Jacob Christie.
The Lions will rest up ahead of the September 13 grand final to be played at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Birchip-Watchem will tackle Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in next Saturday’s preliminary final at St Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park.
The clash of the Bulls and Tigers will start at 2.30pm.
A winning double for Calder United Lions kicked off with victory in the Haeuslers reserves second semi-final against Boort.
Cody Green goaled for the Lions in the 10th minute of the contest as the Lions were up 10-1 by quarter-time.
Dude Kelly was on target in the 28th second of the second term before Boort ht back with goals by Harry Weaver and Malachi Coleman.
The Lions responded with a goal by Hunter Connolly.
Boort kept the heat on as Patrick O’Rourke slotted a major.
By half-time Calder United led 22-20.
The Magpies took the lead nearing two minutes into the third quarter with a goal by Jacob Mulquiny.
When Jack Baker was on target Boort led 33-24.
The Lions bit back with goals by Heath Senior and Brett Barker.
Another major by James Ison gave Calder United an 11-point buffer by three quarter-time.
It was the Lions who finished the match with plenty of run.
Heath Senior and the aptly-named Tiger Vearing goaled as Calder United charged to a 58-33 victory.
Best for the Lions were Jack Morrison, Joel Turner, Sol Kelly, Billy Forrester, Tiger Vearing and James Ison.
Boort’s best were Jack Baker, Cameron Ross, Fraser Millar, Angus Trethowan, Sam Toose and Dylan Hatcher.
The cubs from Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers qualified for the Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s grand final as they won the second semi against St Arnaud by 11 points.
The Saints were first to goal through Declan Kay, but the Tigers led 14-6 by quarter-time are Jacob Cox and Hugo Warne were on target.
As the Tigers goaled in the second through Taj Borlase and Hugo Warne they worked hard to keep the Saints to a point.
The Tigers were up 30-7 at half-time.
St Arnaud hit back strongly with goals by Archer Reyne, Sean Bridgeman and Chase Zander to trail 26-31 at three quarter-time.
Both teams had scored two points in the last when Hugo Warne slotted his third goal for the Tigers to run out 39-28 winners.
Best for Sea Lake Nandaly were Nate McClelland, Judd Durie, Angus Renney, Hugo Warne, Brayden Allen and Jacob Cox.
The Saints’ best were Sean Bridgeman, Austin Lowe, Jack Batters, Aidan Wickham, Finn Wilson and Fraser Burke.
It will be the clash of the Saints and Magpies as St Arnaud faces Boort in the preliminary final.
Fans witnessed a thrilling finish between St Arnaud and Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers in the second semi-final of the Uniting Church under-14s competition.
The Saints led 14-nil at quarter-time and 29-nil by half-time.
Goalkickers for St Arnaud in the first half included Charlie Baldwin, Chase Hendy and Duncan Kirk.
The Tigers bit back with goals by Hamish Landry and Randy Bailey in the third as the Saints were up 30-14 going into the final term.
A Henry Cox goal put SLN within 11 points in the ninth minute of the last quarter.
St Arnaud steadied with a Sami Weir goal.
The Tigers scored the last two goals, but it was St Arnaud which fought on for a 37-34 victory.
Best for St Arnaud were Patrick Zsigmond, Chase Hendy, Jesse James, Duncan Kirk and Arley Reyne.
Sea Lake Nandaly’s best were Henry Cox, Riley Allan, Finn Austerberry, Harry Wight, Hamish Landry and Jack Hodgson.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Lord Nelson Park in St Arnaud:
Uniting Church under-14s at 9.30am: Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers v Boort.
Charlton and District Community Bank under-17s at 10.55am: St Arnaud v Boort.
Haeuslers reserves at 12.35pm: Boort v Birchip-Watchem.
Goldacres seniors at 2.30pm: Birchip-Watchem v Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers.