Magpies back on track

PRESSURE COOKER: Kalangadoo's Mitch Lowe looks to handball under plenty of pressure during the Mid South East football preliminary final.

By Trevor Jackson

KALANGADOO 11.11 (77) d HATHERLEIGH 7.8 (50)

AFTER a slight hiccup in the semi-final round, Kalangadoo left no doubt about its premiership aspirations, with a strong Mid South East football preliminary final victory over Hatherleigh on Saturday.

The Magpies completed the minor rounds undefeated, but suffered at the hands of Port MacDonnell in the semi-final and had to take the long road to the final game of the year.

While certainly not a run-away victory in the end, it was only a final-quarter fight-back which flattered the Hatherleigh score.

The Magpies built an early lead, but just nine points at the first break before breaking the game open in the second quarter.

By the long break the lead was 33 points and the game looked all-but over.

The Magpies continued to extend the margin until the final break, where the lead had crept out to a game-winning 41 points.

There was no coming back for the Eagles, but they still pushed hard in the final stanza and put on another two majors, while holding Kalangadoo goal-less.

However, at the final siren the margin was 27 points and the Magpies were grand-final bound.

Ben Mules was a strong focus up forward for the victors, finishing with four goals and the only Magpie to kick multiples.

At the other end Jake Dowdy kicked two.

The Magpies’ focus will now turn to grand final day, where they face a tough Demons outfit where they would surely look to atone for that semi-final result and claim the premiership honours.