Grand final time in Ongerup

by Zappa

ONGERUP moved into the grand final to challenge the all conquering Boxwood Hills this Saturday after a demolition of Kent in the preliminary final at Gnowangerup.

The young Ongerup side came out blazing and after an initial challenge from Kent were far too quick and skilled and the further the game went the larger the margin became.

Kent went into the game with some injury concerns and, when coach Jamie Ramm went down with a recurring hamstring injury late in the first quarter, things looked grim for the team that has only won three of its last 10 finals games.

With experienced players Clint Dolan, Tim Adams and Tim Clegg well held the Kent back line was under extreme pressure all day as the Ongerup defence rebounded everything back to a rampant midfield who set up a potent forward line.

Captain coach Rob Miniter bagged seven goals, but split the ledger with Kent's Oliver Kiddie who was his team's best player in a overworked defence.

The 15-year-old Jamie Bolton played well above his years and he is already in the sights of Claremont talent scouts.

In fact Ongerup barely had a passenger as it surged towards a grand final appearance. Kent's better players were hard to find with Kiddie, Shaun Fewson and Brad Harris trying hard all day.

This Saturday at Newdegate will see the OFA grand final between the undefeated Boxwood Hills and the up and coming Ongerup.

For Ongerup to beat Boxwood they must come out of the blocks early and put scoreboard pressure on the Bombers. Forwards Rob Miniter, Phil Quartermain and Derek Woods all kicked goals last week but will find it much harder against a stingy Boxwood defence led by Boxwood's version of Brisbane's Scott bothers - the Peacocks - who are just as mean and tough.

The Ongerup back line has got better as the season has gone on, but must somehow stop the Boxwood talls Scott Smith and Jarrod King who have kicked a swag of goals this season.

The ruck duels between Dave Campbell (Boxwood) and Lance Hart (Ongerup) should be a great contest, with both sides having the best midfields in the league. Boxwood boast the Davis brothers, Ganzer medallist Trevor Harris and State Country player Harvey Lynch, whilst Ongerup have past Ganzer medallist Brendan O'Neill, the in form Chris Penny and James Wynne.

It should be a fantastic game, but Boxwood's consistency over two years may just give it the edge over an ever improving Ongerup. Boxwood by 20 points.

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