The business end of the season is here, with the first week of finals done and dusted with 2 teams from each grade left for this weeks upcoming Grand Finals.

As always available, all the team information, players, scores, ladders and goals coring charts can be found over on the State League page

C Grade

The Preliminary Final saw 2nd placed Boomers take on 3rd placed Arista to determine who will face Flinders in next weekend’s Grand Final. The teams had met three times previously this season with Boomers winning all 3 encounters. The match started slow with a couple of empty trips up and down the court before a couple of minor interruptions, as padding was applied to the posts. After the quick breaks Boomers capitalised on their chances to score the first couple of goals and managed to generate a break over Arista. Boomers got out to a 6 goal lead late in the first half before Arista found their shot and got the next couple of goals to bring the margin back to 4 as the game headed to half-time. After the break the intensity lifted as the teams knew what they were fighting for, the game went goal for goal as they headed to the final 10-minutes with Boomers holding onto the 4 goal lead. The final 10 minutes saw chances for both teams come, as the next goal became vital, it was Boomers who came out with it as they scored the next two goals to take the game 14-8, winning their way through to the Grand Final next week against Flinders. For Boomers, Stefan Scragg top scored with 6 goals for the game, whilst for Arista, James Holland led the scoring with 3 goals.

B Grade

The Preliminary Final saw a repeat of the C Grade Prelim Final as 2nd placed Boomers and 3rd placed Arista faced off, to again see who would face Flinders in next weekends Grand Final. The teams had met three times previous this season with Arista holding a 2-1 advantage. The match got off to a quick start with the teams going goal for goal early before Boomers shooting went up a gear, with goals flying in from what looked like everywhere on the court. Boomers took a strong lead into the main break, before the second half saw a similar story to the first as Boomers shooting continued to impress, Arista then found their shot late in the game to put some pressure back on Boomers, who held strong and came away with a 25-12 victory, to book their place in next weekends Grand Final against Flinders. For Boomers, Jack Curran top scored with 6 goals for the game, with a further 4 players scoring 3 goals or more. Whilst for Arista, Cameron McLean top scored with 4 goals.

A Grade

The 3rd v 4th playoff saw Glenelg take on Boomers, these side met 4 times throughout the season, with honours split at 2 apiece. With this game starting with Glenelg on fire early getting out to a 10-4 lead at one stage, before Boomers got their game going and fought back to be within 2 goals at the main break. The third quarter saw another tight affair with Glenelg pushing their lead out, before some superb shooting in the last saw Glenelg claim the victory 27-19 to finish their year on a positive note. For Glenelg Ashlee Othen was almost unstoppable, with Josh Berney and the end wall trying their best at one point, scoring 9 goals for the game. For Boomers both Josh Berney and Jack Curran scored 4 goals apiece.

 

This weekend’s Grand Finals will be back at Titanium Security Arena, starting from 1:20pm.

All the finals information can be found here, 2018 State League Finals