The Mustangs controlled the contest for the best part of the opening three quarters but had to hold on grimly during a late St Mary’s comeback before prevailing 16.6 (102) to 10.14 (74).
Reservoir had looked like romping to victory when Toby O’Meara (four goals) kicked a major in the first minute of the final quarter to give his side a 47-point lead.
But five goals in less than 12 minutes to the Burras cut the margin to just 16 points with more than 10 minutes remaining on the clock. The fightback surprised everyone at the ground given the Burras had managed just four goals in the preceding three quarters.
Haydn Bryce and Dillan Ronalds led the charge for St Mary’s and added three goals as the unlikeliest of victories fleetingly looked on the cards.
It was left to Ashley Flavel to get the Mustangs back on track and two late goals to the star forward ensured his side held on for a tougher than expected victory.
Flavel was the difference between the sides all day and finished the game with seven majors. He was able to find space on the lead where he then kick accurately from the set shot, and was equally impressive at ground level when the ball hit the deck.
His finishing class was exactly what St Mary’s lacked early in the contest, with the young side registering a wasteful 4.12 up until three-quarter time before the final term onslaught.
As has been the case so often this season, Flavel teamed up superbly with tall forward Toby O’Meara who couldn’t be contained in the aerial contest. O’Meara kicked the opening two goals of the game to get Reservoir off to a flying start, before kicking two more either side of the three-quarter time siren.
Kael Beaumont was also industrious up forward and finished the day with three goals, while Leigh Sullivan didn’t hit the scoreboard but dragged in many big marks and often hit up his fellow forwards with pin-point passes.
Jarrod Skinner’s polish through the midfield ensured Reservoir always looked dangerous when entering its forward half, while Ryan Docherty continued his sensational second half of the season and offered plenty of rebound off half back.
Ultimately, it was Reservoir’s superb start which provided decisive in the outcome of the game. It lead by 22-points at quarter-time following a five-goal to one first term and was able to hold a lead between the four to six-goal mark for the remaining three quarters.
St Mary’s will naturally be disappointed to have exited the finals race, but there were many positives that Brenton Kinnear’s young side will take out of the contest.
They were gallant in the last and showed how dangerous they can be when they take the game on and win the ball out of the middle.
After winning just six games in the home and away season, the side certainly displayed plenty of promise and talent in an encouraging finals display.
The marking ability shown by Bryce, Ronalds and Matthew Patti ensures the club has a dangerous forward line for years to come. The trio did miss some kickable set shots at crucial times in the game, however their work rate and intent certainly cannot be questioned.
With another big pre-season under the young team’s belt, the sky is the limit for the emerging side in 2013.
While the Burras may have a wait on their hands before achieving greater success, Reservoir knows its time is now.
Despite finishing the home and away season in third place some three wins behind Panton Hill, the Mustangs go into next week’s clash against the Redbacks with the belief that they are capable of playing off in this year’s premiership decider.
Aside from the final quarter fadeout, the side is playing with confidence and heads into the contest on the back of six consecutive victories.
They will carry underdog status into the game but with each of Flavel, O’Meara and Docherty firing at the right end of the season, there’s no doubting the Mustangs have plenty of weapons to worry the Redbacks.
Final score: Reservoir 16.6 (102) def St Mary’s 10.14 (74)
