Around the Grounds: Dandaragan avoid Pirates upset in first semi-final as North Midlands top four locked in

Finals are underway in the Central Midlands Coastal Football League as the Dandaragan Saints produced a last-quarter fightback to avoid a shock at the hands of Lancelin Point Pirates. Having trailed for the first three-quarters the Saints kicked four goals to win at the last to break the Pirate hearts and book their place in the prelim 11.16 (82) to 11.4 (70). While finals pressure can often be a great leveller, Lancelin were clear underdogs in the match-up having won just the three games this season, all against wooden-spooners Jurien Bay. Dandaragan had beaten them in their previous three meetings this season by an average margin of 51 points and had pushed Cervantes all the way just a week prior. With a wet home ground the Saints would have been confident but found themselves in a shootout early as the Pirates burst out with five goals to the Saints’ four to take a 5.2 (32) to 4.3 (27) lead into the first break. The Saints had the better run of play, generating seven scoring shots to two, but could not reduce the margin as they kicked 1.6 to the Pirates’ two straight. Their kicking would only marginally improve in the third as they kicked two goals but the Pirates had their measure kicking three of their own to increase the margin to seven goals. By this point, the Saints had had 21 scoring shots to 13 but the Pirates’ efficiency going forward was keeping them in the game. They were led superbly by their captain Trent Jackson. who ended with three goals along with Jackson Harwood, who also grabbed three majors. But the weight of numbers was against them and once the Saints managed to kick straight they overhauled the deficit at the last with four final-quarter goals to win by 12 points. Anton Scotney was excellent with three goals and has now kicked 11 goals in his last four games after kicking just five in his first eight, while Riley Clarke, Keegan Finn and Jakeb Holland had two a piece to help them over the line. They will now face the loser of the Moora and Cervantes clash in two weeks’ time for a shot at the flag. The North Midlands Football League finished up their regular season on the weekend as Morawa played out a thriller against Dongara Eagles to confirm fourth place and shot in the finals. It was always the likely outcome regardless of the result on the day as Dongara would have had to smash Morawa to overhaul their poor percentage. It looked like they were consigned to their fate trailing by over 30 points at three-quarter time with five goals to Morawa’s 11. But out of nowhere a game broke out at the last as the Eagles mounted an incredible fightback, kicking seven last-quarter goals to bring the margin to within one major. Clifton Dongara kicked five while Gary Dongara had three but ultimately it was just a bridge too far as Morawa held on for a six-point win, 13.8 (86) to 12.8 (80), thanks to three goals from Jack Stone. In the other match, Coorow Latham smashed Three Springs kicking at least six goals in every quarter to post a 26.16 (172) to 10.4 (64) win. Blair Stone led the way with seven goals while Matthew Burley had five and Harry Pickett grabbed four in the 108-point drubbing. Mingenew had to forfeit their clash against Carnamah Perenjori but will still finish top of the ladder and face off in the semi-final next weekend. Coorow Latham will face Morawa in the elimination final next weekend.