VICTORIA Navy and Western Australia will battle it out tomorrow in the boys’ final of the School Sports Australia 15 & Under Championships. The two sides have gone undefeated all tournament in their respective pools, and while they both had some scares in the semi-finals, fought off Vic White and South Australia to secure their spots in the Gold Medal Match.

Victoria Navy 5.7 (37) defeated Victoria White 1.6 (12)

The cross-state rivalry was tipped to be a huge one and the defensive pressure, coupled with the conditions make it a tough encounter. Angus Tippett won a free kick for a downfield and slotted the first goal of the game for White, but unfortunately for his side, it would prove to be the only major of the contest.

In what was a dour struggle from a scoring perspective, Victoria Navy started the second term in a blaze of glory with the first two inside 50s and a mark in the goalsqure to Matthew D’Amico who made not mistake. They would continue to pepper the goals with four straight behinds until a perfectly weighted kick inside 50 from Max Matthews to Mitch Toner handed Navy a 10-point buffer at the main break.

Though Victoria White would have the scoring end in the third term, only managing the four behinds which was the difference between the sides. Victoria Navy finished off strong with three last quarter goals – including another each to D’Amico and Toner – capping off the great work of Charlie Harper and Jack Surkitt.

For the losing side, White still had some promising players with Tippett being a target, and the usual suspects in Harvie Cooke and Blake Newton both playing impressive matches. They will go on to face South Australia for a chance at a Bronze Medal.

Western Australia 4.4 (28) defeated South Australia 3.7 (25)

Despite Western Australia coming into the contest as strong favourites given the Sandgropers were undefeated, and the Croweaters had lost to Vic Navy and only scraped past Tasmania, it was the underdogs who took full advantage of the breeze in the opening term.

South Australia had booted two goals within the first eight minutes, and raced out to a 16-point lead just 11 minutes into the contest, missing the opportunity to go further ahead and really jump the Sandgropers. Tom Lindsay kicked the first after a free kick at the top of the goalsquare, and the next after Dougie Cochrane honoured a well placed kick from Max Atkin.

Then the game changed in the second term, with Western Australia pushing forward with the breeze and after a fumble from a South Australian inside 50, the ball spilled to Matthew Edgelow who made no mistake with the snap just a minute into the term. Both teams would have their chances, but the final five minutes of the half belonged to Western Australia.

A fatal turnover in the corridor from the Croweaters – where most of their players had run to the near side – saw the Sandgropers move it to the fat side where the ball would end up with Thatcher Simmons. After having a day out in his last match with four goals, he quickly turned and slammed home a goal from 50m. Then in the last 90 seconds, a chain of possessions following a free kick on the other wing lead to Koby LeCras kicking a clever goal on the run and handing his side a three-point buffer at the main break.

Western Australia would end up kicking four consecutive goals in the match to lead by as much as nine points. LeCras would kick what would ultimately be the game sealer for the Sandgropers. Lucas Robinson and Kye Ormerod were among the better West Australia’s in the win, as Riley Hay also impressed.

For South Australia, midfielder Kodah Edwards again starred through the middle, while Khye Maddern kicked the consolation major for the Croweaters. Naite Slade and Van Rahilly were the other impressive players in the loss. South Australia will regroup and prepare to take on Victoria White for a Bronze Medal.

OTHER RESULTS

The two larger states in New South Wales and Queensland both posted wins in the other Crossover games, to set up a fifth placed playoff match tomorrow. New South Wales defeated Australian Capital Territory (ACT), 11.1 (77) to 0.3 (3), while Queensland got past Tasmania, 5.6 (36) to 3.5 (23).

New South Wales had 10 individual goalkickers from its 11 goals, with Mason McGroder the only multiple goalkicker. He was named among his side’s best with Alex Norris. George Breusch and George Covery was nominated as ACT’s top players.

Queensland kicked three goals to nil in the first term to keep Tasmania at arms-length during the 13-point win, as Noah Cameron slotted two goals for the day. Jackson Jarvis and Hawthorn father-son prospect Cooper Hodge were impressive once again. Hugh McCallum did all he could for the Apple Isle side, kicking two goals and was named his side’s best, while Charlie Bovill also stepped up in defeat.

FINALS FIXTURE

All matches take place tomorrow, Saturday, July 29.

Gold Medal Match: Victoria Navy vs. Western Australia @ City Oval, 11:10am
Bronze Medal Match: Victoria White vs. South Australia @ Alfredton Oval, 11:10am
5th Placed Playoff: New South Wales vs. Queensland @ Alfredton Oval, 9:30am
7th Placed Playoff: Australian Capital Territory vs. Tasmania @ Alfredton Oval, 7:50am