Matt Beggs
PADTHAWAY advance to a second semi-final clash with Mundulla this weekend after they defeated Kingston by 26 points on Saturday.
The Lions controlled most of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara qualifying final and looked dangerous when going forward.
Kingston got the best start possible when Ben Warner, Chad Wood and Brett Simpson combined in a play to set up Jake Fisher for the first goal of the game.
Two minutes later Jake Fisher had his second goal to put the Saints up by 12 points and had the big Saints following in full voice on the sidelines.
Padthaway hit back with goals from Joshua and Jake Vandermeer to close the margin to a point.
Nathan McCarthy, Will Verco and Terak Redigolo were starting to get more ball for the Lions, while Ben Warner, Jarryd Hill, Brett Simpson and Tyler Baker had begun the game well for the Saints.
Kingston led by three points at quarter time.
Padthaway dominated the second quarter in general play around the ground.
Kingston defended hard and attempted to block most of the Lions avenues to goal, but Padthaway put through four goals in the term to Kingston’s zero as Redigolo kicked two goals, while Josh Vandermeer and Tobin Cox were able to find some space to hurt the Saints on the scoreboard.
Jarryd Hill, Campbell Watts and Jake Wehl were working hard in the backline to stem the flow. Sam Robertson and Liam Toohey were hard around the packs, trying to get the ball going the Saints’ way.
Redigolo, Lachlan Eats and Matt Raitt were doing the same for the Lions, but were a bit cleaner when moving the ball in to the forward line.
Padthaway went in to half time 24 points ahead and with all the momentum.
After half time both teams looked for a fast start and Kingston got the first goal through Chad Wood as the Saints closed the margin to 17 points.
The Lions then put on a little scoring spree and took control of the game.
Goals from Cody Marshall, Raitt and coach Redigolo had the Lions right on top and 35 points ahead at the 12-minute mark of the third quarter.
The loss of Tyler Baker to a knee injury in the second quarter hurt Kingston’s ability to take intercept marks and rebound the ball.
Kingston had to find a way to get the ball past Eats who was playing a great game for the Lions.
Verco, Jake Vandermeer and McCarthy caused problems for Kingston around the ground as they helped Padthaway build the big lead.
Kingston had to find form fast or the game would slip away and players such as Sam Robertson, Liam Toohey, Henry Lawrie and Chad Wood were starting to get their hands on the ball more and win more contests to get the ball going the Saints way.
Sam Robertson kicked a much-needed goal for Kingston as they looked to get back in the game.
Then suddenly the Saints put on four late goals through Warner, Robertson, Toohey and Jacob Fisher to trail by just seven points at the last change.
James Siviour was important in this patch of play as he had a quiet first half, but was starting to get free and take some big marks at centre half forward for the Saints.
Campbell Watts was solid at half back, providing some run and dash and steady disposal when needed.
Tom Rogers was hard around the packs, laying some big tackles and keeping the pressure on.
Padthaway started the fourth quarter in great style as Cox finally got free to kick two goals in the opening minutes to push the margin back out to 20 points.
Kingston hit back and cut the margin to 14 points when Siviour took a big mark in the goal square and was able to slot the goal through to give Kingston some hope.
However, Padthaway kept working hard and Jake Vandermeer slotted through a goal and then Joshua Vandermeer kicked the next three as the Lions stamped their authority on the contest with a 38-point lead.
Kingston kicked two late goals through Jacob Fisher and Tom Rogers as the Saints cut the margin to 26 points.
But in the end Padthaway held on for a 27-point win and booked a second semi-final showdown with Mundulla at Lucindale.
Meanwhile, Keith won an overtime thriller against Naracoorte to keep their season alive.
Keith started strongly but bad kicking at goal in the first quarter cost them a bigger lead at quarter time.
Ben Simounds and Albert Dunstan were dangerous in the forward line for Keith early, but some of the shots at goal were wayward.
Naracoorte hit back in the second quarter as Joshua Gregg and Rory Taggert found more of the ball forward.
Aaron Slorach and Will Limbert hit their strides as tall targets in the forward line and the Demons had enough of the football to turn around the Crows quarter-time lead and hold a seven-point advantage at the long break.
The contest went up a notch in the third quarter as neither team gave an inch.
Will Schreiber was outstanding in the backline for Keith as he saved the Crows time and time again as the Demons pressed hard.
Ex-North Adelaide star George Thring used his skills to keep the Crows moving forward during the quarter, but Naracoorte went in to three-quarter time with a two-point lead.
The last quarter was an arm wrestle and neither team could break free.
Both teams were throwing their bodies in hard all over the ground and the contest was so even at full time the scores were level.
The first extra time period was even.
Every time Naracoorte went forward, Schreiber was in the way for the Crows as he led the rebounding efforts.
Naracoorte got an unlucky bounce when the winning goal looked like bouncing through but bounced straight up in the air and was touched before it went through to tie the game in the second overtime and nearing the end of the second five-minute period.
Keith then went the length of the ground from the kick in to set up Thring, who kicked the winning goal as the siren went and the Crows moved on to week two.
Keith now plays in the first semi-final against Kingston at Bordertown on Sunday.
