Sunday 18 September 2010
Southport received some consolation for missing the senior grand final by taking out the QAFL reserves premiership in impressive fashion at Giffin Park today in a game where rising teen stars from both sides were prominent.
The Sharks won every quarter on the way to a comfortable 16.18 (114) to 9.15 (69) win over Morningside.
The Sharks went into the grand final as red-hot favourites, having lost just once during the 18 qualifying rounds.
Morningside finished third during after the qualifying rounds but reached the grand final on the back of a surprise one-point win over Mt Gravatt in the preliminary final, kicking three goals in the last four minutes to shock the Vultures.
The Panthers matched Southport for intensity during the opening term, but missed several gettable opportunities while the Sharks made them pay at the other end.
A 14-point quarter-time deficit blew out to 28 points at the main break and the Sharks never looked threatened at any stage.
The match was a memorable one for 17-year-old Dalton Tucker, who won the Billy Hardy Medal for best-on-ground.
The young wingman had made his senior debut just a week earlier in the preliminary final and was one of the catalysts behind the last quarter charge that fell just short of overcoming Morningside.
He took that fine form into the reserves grand final, collecting possessions at will.
Fellow Southport junior Adam Clarke also cut apart the Panthers with his speed, the 18-yearold icing his game with three goals.
At just 55kg, Clarke is the lightest player in the competition, but he was also among the better players in the Sharks’ decisive 33-point win over Mt Gravatt in the second semi-final, where they blew away the Vultures with a 5.9 to 1.0 opening term.
Morningside’s young brigade also led their fight, with 16-year-old Peter Yagmoor capping a fine finals series with another outstanding display.
Nick Clark, an unlucky omission from the senior side, didn’t let the disappointment affect his game, while Kent and Blain Delbridge were also solid for the Panthers.
Scores:
Southport 3.5, 8.11, 13.16, 16.18 (114)
Morningside 1.3, 4.7, 7.12, 9.15 (69)
Goals, Southport: A. Clarke 3, T. Knight 3, R. Salter 2, B. Blackwood 2, D. Grant 2, F. Thurlow, H. Graham, M. Wise, B. Davis 1. Morningside: A. Joyce 3, J. Wallin 2, L. Bower 2, K. Delbridge, B. Delbridge 1.
Best, Southport: D. Tucker, S. Bourke, B. Blackwood, H. Graham, T. Knight, A. Clarke. Morningside: P. Yagmoor, K. Delbridge, N. Clark, B. Delbridge, A. Dean, A. Penny.
