CMCFL grand final: Cervantes claim their 23rd premiership proving too strong for Moora Mavericks

Cervantes have claimed their third premiership in five years after breaking Moora Maverick hearts, leading from siren to siren to claim a 13.19 (97) 10.12 (72) victory.

Moora were entering their first grand final in their club’s history while Cervantes remained the dominant force in the Central Midlands Coastal Football League having won 19 premierships since their inception in 1992.

For context, no either club has managed to win more than two in that time and the Tiger Sharks have won their last two matches against the Mavericks including a 97-point thumping in the first semifinal.

Cervantes were dominant in the opening exchanges but couldn’t impact the scoreboard with just a behind to their name across the opening 10 minutes before Jacob Green broke the deadlock with a good set shot on the 45.

West Coast star Mark LeCras then got his first with a soccer out the back of the pack on the goal line, the former Eagle adding to his tally of 33 goals across four games for Cervantes this season.

Kyle Murray got an important goal to get Moora on the board and keep them in touch, trailing 2.4 to 1.1 at quarter-time as the Tiger Sharks were wasteful in front of goal.

Benjamin McGillivary got the perfect start in the second running to an open goal to get his fist and bring the Mavericks to within three points despite them not having much of the actual run of play.

But as the saying goes class is permanent as LeCras after missing two set shots made no mistake from a straighter angle to kick his second before Cervantes took the lead out to 13 with their third.

Moora kept finding a way to hang in as McGillivary wheeled around on his left to slot a magnificent goal from 40m and they closed to within five points as they started to get the game on a more even keel.

But James Venturini’s snap got a lucky bounce and went through to open up breathing space for Cervantes before the league’s leading goal kicker Isaac Devitt-Boyd worked one back to push the lead to a game-high 19 points .

Devitt then made it three straight before Tyson Lord clunked a big mark and kicked true from around the corner as they took a commanding lead into halftime.

Bill Jones got an important goal for Mavericks to stem the tide but LeCras got his third as the Tiger Sharks just kept the Mavericks at arm’s length.

Trailing by 35 points at three-quarter-time Moora would had to throw everything at Cervantes to cause an upset.

They didn’t get the start they needed as Venturini took a strong mark back with the flight and converted to push the margin above 40 points.

To their credit, Mavericks didn’t give up kicking the next four goals through Tunbridge (2), Sam McGillivary and Reece Mabbs to close the gap to 16 points.

But they didn’t have enough time to pull off the comeback as Cervantes kicked the last goal and had they kicked straighter the margin would’ve better reflected their dominance as they ran out deserving 25-point winners.

Tom Orford wont the medal for best on ground as the Tiger Sharks completed a dominant Saturday having also won the reserves and little league grand finals to sweep the football flags.