By Beth Newman
Noosa sprung an upset in the first week of the Division Four north finals, with a dominant win over Maroochydore on Saturday.
The Tigers finished four games behind the Roos in the regular season, but proved their talents when it counted, with the win.
Bursting out of the blocks, the Tigers kicked six goals to one in the first term, leaving Maroochydore a major deficit to attempt to claw back.
After the lopsided opening term, the action was relatively even for the match, but Maroochydore simply couldn’t make headway on the first quarter margin.
Daniel Hickleton and Kris Kamback led the scoring for Noosa, each slotting four goals in the sudden-death match.
With the win, Noosa now faces Bribie Island in a preliminary final this Saturday.
In the major semi-final, things went a little more to form, with Pomona claiming a 15.9 (99) – 6.4 (40) victory over Bribie Island.
Pomona has been clearly the best side in the competition this season and reiterated that in the comfortable victory.
The Demons got out to a two-goal advantage after a competitive first quarter, and didn’t look back after that.
Kicking four unanswered goals in the second, the home side was well and truly in the box seat for a grand final berth by half-time, with a 38-point lead.
Bribie kicked back in the third term, but Pomona managed to edge a little further away, with a 40-point advantage at the final change.
The Demons only kicked three in the final term, but they kept Bribie scoreless for the quarter, storming home to a 59-point win.
With the victory, Pomona now has a well-earned week off, before facing one of Bribie or Noosa in the August 24 premiership decider.
DIV 4 SOUTH
Tweed Coast clinched the last Division Four South grand final spot on Saturday, with a 15.13 (103) – 11.12 (78) win over Ballina.
The Tigers led for most of the day, but the Bombers remained competitive throughout the match.
After going into half-time with a 15-point lead, the Tigers slipped in the third, as the Bombers closed the margin to 10 points.
A super final quarter from the Northern Rivers side sealed the victory, and their premiership decider spot, as the Tigers kicked five goals to two in the last term.
David Round and Ashley Gemmill destroyed the Bombers, combining for 13 of the Tigers’ 15 goals, propelling their side into the grand final.
The win sets up a rematch with Byron Bay, who defeated the Tigers in their qualifying final a week ago.
