St Mary’s produced a spirited showing in the MC Labour Division 2 first semi-final, responding from their heavy defeat last week to prevail by 21 points over South Morang at Epping Recreation Reserve.
The 18.12 (120) to 15.9 (99) result is the Burra’s first ever finals win in the Division 2 competition, but it certainly didn’t come easy, with the Lions mounting multiple challenges throughout the match.
With in-form South Morang ruck Nathan Stefanile out of action, he would prove to be a massive void in the Lions side, as they had no answers for Huon MacGibbon who put in a dominant display.
Having the biggest say in the outcome, he’d play a vital role in ensuring his side would run out victors. Regularly giving his side first use out of the middle, the Burra midfield group would be on top for most of the contest, and while Lions coach Gary Hall rotated players in the hope of nullifying their impact, St Mary’s always found a way through.
Impressing alongside MacGibbon was Tane Cotter, who was utilised in the middle to help generate scores out of the centre throughout the day, while also notching up three majors of his own to round out what was another excellent performance. Rory Hanlon too had a lot of the football and had his usual impact around stoppages.
Jeremiah Antypas returned to the side and finished the day with four majors, causing plenty of headaches for the Lions’ back-six, while down back Joseph Maggio was brilliant and played arguably his best game of the season, starring with his intercept work and run and carry off half back.
Although South Morang’s fairytale season comes to an end, it certainly wasn’t down to a lack of effort, particularly from Joshua D’Intinosante who was the standout for his side in the loss.
The livewire forward finished the game with seven goals. Having been quiet in the opening half, he’d come into the game massively in the second half, while also being rotated into the middle at times.
Tye Hall, Deacon Kalpakis and Kobe Davies also put in solid showings in the side’s effort.
Down by 32 points in the opening stages of the third term, the margin ultimately proved too much of a mountain to climb and despite multiple rallying efforts throughout the day, the Lions were always back at square one.
The Burra got off to hot start with a four to one goal opening term. Antypas, Cotter and Nicholas Dean booted the opening three goals of the game and early signs suggested it would be the Burra’s day.
But they would face some resistance in the second term with the Lions booting the final three goals of the quarter to give themselves a sniff.
Having been awarded a free kick in the pocket with his side trailing by 19 points, D’Intinosante got himself off the mark with a clever snap, it’d prove a momentum turner as his side got to within a point by half time.
But it was momentum that could not be carried into the third term, conceding the first five goals of the third quarter headlined by Antypas, who slotted through three majors, extending the lead past 30 points.
The Lions kept within touching distance by booting the final two goals of the term to be within four majors at three-quarter-time.
Down by 20 points approaching the midway point of the last quarter, the Burra looked poised to run home comfortable winners. Though there’d be another twist in the tale, with the Lions mounting one final challenge.
Three consecutive goals courtesy of D’Intinosante, Tye Hall and Ben Muscat brought the contest back within two points, though it would be the closest South Morang got to gaining the lead.
Five majors were kicked in the final 10 minutes of the match, three of them coming from St Mary’s, with two of those thanks to Zane Costello which proved to be enough to see his side through to the preliminary final.
