General News
5 September, 2024
McKinley's goal snuffs Bears fightback
BRIDGEWATER has pulled off a thrilling Loddon Valley league first sem-final victory driven by hunger for success. The Mean Machine could have wilted when Bears Lagoon Serpentine came surging from behind and snatched the lead late in Sunday’s...
BRIDGEWATER has pulled off a thrilling Loddon Valley league first sem-final victory driven by hunger for success.
The Mean Machine could have wilted when Bears Lagoon Serpentine came surging from behind and snatched the lead late in Sunday’s fourth quarter at Malone Park, Marong.
Then up stepped the experienced Lee Coghlan, goal gun Lachie Sharp who had drifted further into the midfield and Bo Alexander.
They brought every Bridgewater player to new heights. When Alexander looked for the better option, he found Harry McKinley 10 metres out from goal.
One of the Mean Machine’s big improvers this season, McKinley put Bridgewater back in front by two points as the clock ticked into time on,
Justin Laird, Nathan Twigg and Bailey Harrison drove one last roll of the dice for the Bears.
Deep forward they pushed. Touched on the line called the umpire and Bridgewater wasted no time going deep forward.
As the siren sounded, Sharp had marked. Too far out to add another goal to four for the day.
It didn’t matter as Bridgewater had booked its second preliminary final appearance in three years and avenged the 2024 first semi-final loss to the Bears.
Bridgewater had started the better in the first half, even if Jake Wilkinson’s Bears were first to rattle the scoreboard.
The Mean Machine at times made Serpentine look sloppy, slow and indecisive.
Callum Draper, Josh Taig and Harry Gadsen has kept the Bears thereabouts. Laird lit a late second term spark that saw two quick goals, one from Gadsden with poise on the run.
The challenge was on from the start of the third quarter - straight down deep 50 and James Rippingale had the Bears scoring.
A Laird goal was one of four for the term but there were more behinds, including a poster.
Bridgewater briefly surrendered the lead until up bobbed another of the experienced brigade Andrew Collins who ended the day with five goals. Another vital Collins goal would come mid-way through the last quarter.
Nathan Twigg’s firm hands marked often to halt the Mean Machine as the lead see-sawed.
In the end, McKinley’s goal and a slicker Bridgewater were to bundle Bears Lagoon Serpentine out of the finals race in straight games.