THE Port Macquarie Magpies have failed to reach the AFL North Coast grand final, unable to overcome Sawtell Toormina Saints in their preliminary final showdown.
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The two sides clashed on Saturday, August 27, in Coffs Harbour. Sawtell won the game 14.9.93 to 9.9.63.
It wasn’t all bad news for the club, with the under-18s Magpies defeating 8.11.59 to 7.4.46, booking themselves a spot in the grand final.
It was a case of so near, yet so far for the Magpies. The match could only be described as a slow burn, never really gaining momentum until the final quarter.
Having been locked together at the first break, Sawtell started to take control early in the second quarter and moved out to a two goal lead.
Port then had a sustained period of dominance in terms of both territory and possession but couldn’t take full toll on the scoreboard, adding just four behinds for the quarter.
This profligacy was torture for the travelling fans who knew that their team would need to take full advantage if they were going to beat the Saints.
Just before the long break Hamish Bird kicked a goal for Sawtell to open a 17 point lead and it looked as the Magpies could be in trouble.
The third quarter was a repeat of the first, with the two teams notching the same score.
Port looked as though they may have found a way back into the game following the move of Max Lower into the forward line where he marked strongly and kicked two goals.
However, Aaron Clarke provided a tall marking target for Sawtell, kicking one goal of his own and laying on another for coach Jim Angel, to cancel out Lower’s efforts.
The two teams headed into the last quarter with Sawtell leading by 17 points.
Magpies co-captain Jesse Schmidt was everywhere in and around the forward 50, taking marks and looking like he might drag Port over the line.
He received excellent support from Kyle Bray, Brice Hayward, and Dylan Beasley who each kicked a major.
There was just one goal in it with Port dominating play, and the crowd well and truly involved.
At that stage, it looked as though Port would run over the top of Sawtell, but the Saints responded as a champion team should.
They steadied with a goal to Aaron Clarke, then they started to get back into the contest in the middle of the ground.
Port wouldn’t lie down and the match became a bit of an arm wrestle, before a free kick was awarded to Sawtell in their attacking zone, followed by a 50m penalty which Brendan Foote duly converted.
This took the wind out of Port’s sail and Sawtell took full toll to kick the last three goals of the game and run out 30 point winners.
Matt Attard
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
