FIRST
SEMI A THRILLER
BY:
Lois Thomas
MINGENEW
held off a determined Coorow/Latham to win the NMFL Farmoz 1st Semi
Final by a mere 3-point margin last Sunday. This game was one of the most
physical games seen in the North Midlands for the 2003 season.
Mingenew
won the toss and elected to kick to the southern end with Nick Duane recording
the first goal for Mingenew at the 3-minute mark,
Coorow/Latham's
Wes Morecombe followed 30-seconds later opening his Club's account.
Mingenew
then took control of the opening quarter to lead by 23-points at the quarter
time break. The second quarter was an arm wrestle with the margin still being
19-points at half time.
Mingenew
came out after the long break and kicked two quick goals taking their lead out
to a 33-point lead early in the third quarter threatening to blow the game apart
but to Coorow/Latham's credit in typical dogged Finals football, they tightened
the game in only a way the Magpies can do, which they have shown over the past
decade. Coorow/Latham went on to kick six of the last seven goals of the game to
take Mingenew right to the "wire".
Wes
Morecombe was exceptional for Coorow/Latham Magpies at centre-half forward,
taking in excess of 15-marks for the day which always gave Coorow/Latham the
chance, while Joshua Starick was in scintillating form on the wing and Luigi
Moreschi held the back-line together for Mingenew.
Coorow/Latham
had ample opportunities to win, however uncharacteristic misjudgements combined
with poor shots for goal let Mingenew off the hook time and again.
To
Mingenew's credit, they hung on to win the right to play in the Preliminary
Final.
In
other results, Mingenew Reserves, Morawa Colts and Dongara Nippers all
progressed to the Preliminary Final.
The
Second Semi Final will be held at the Maley Park, Coorow next Sunday 30th
August. Carnamah/Perenjori play Three Springs in the League,
Coorow/Latham
play Dongara in the Reserves, Dongara play Carnamah/Perenjori in the Colts and
in the Nippers, Carnamah/Perenjori will play Morawa.