WHOROULY won its third successive reserves grand final in a tough, dour struggle with scoring at a premium.
The Lions trailed by a goal at the first change, but started to show their ascendency in the second half.
They had plenty of opportunities up forward although Greta’s defence worked over time to limit scoring.
Craig McKerral kicked a superb angle goal from the boundary line to get Whorouly’s third goal.
Tyron Creek was a dominant wingman for Whorouly with support from John Pethybridge, Grant Saunders, Chas Pianegonda and Michael Cummins and it appeared to break the shackles in the third quarter.
The Lions were 11 points clear after Peter Capellari goaled and Greta wasted a golden opportunity when Mick O’Brien missed an open goal from inside the square.
Whorouly had a handy break, but two goals in two minutes late in the quarter by Greta cut the margin to four points.
It was goal for goal by the two teams in a desperate last quarter as Craig Patrick, Jason Younger, Rob Northey and Matthew McInerney starred for the Blues.
Whorouly managed to get clear and Greta responded, twice cutting the margin to two points.
Greta’s Matt Booth goaled at the 18-minute mark and Whorouly was leading 8.10 to 8.8.
But the Lions responded with another goal and then a goal by Saunders sealed a 14-point victory.
TARRAWINGEE repeated its second semi-final effort and defeated Benalla All Blacks in the thirds grand final.
But this time the margin was more significant with the Bulldogs finishing 25 points ahead.
The ability to get first use of the ball was significant in Tarrawingee’s win.
Nicholas Griffin won many possessions in the centre, with ruckman Tom Dell’Oro, rover Matthew Oxenham and ruck-rover Jake Dell’Oro playing crucial roles in getting the ball forward.
When it got into the forward zone, Paul McKenzie did the rest and produced a starring role from centre half-forward with five of his team’s seven goals.
He marked strongly and produced a telling display, although his All Blacks opponent Jarred Prior rated highly.
Tarrawingee led by six points at quarter time, five points midway and 10 points going into the final quarter.
It kicked three goals in the final stanza for an impressive victory.
Ruck-rover Ian Rawlings, Luke Roscoe, back flanker Scott Lowen, rover Matthew Smith and ruckman Ben Irwin were rated the top players for All Blacks.
18th Sep, 2006.