Royal hat trick

by LES EVERETT

THERE'S always debate about the value of the day off in a finals campaign. Some favour the freshness factor afforded by the earned rest. Some like the idea of teams hardened by continuing the week-by-week grind.

The 2006 Sunday Football League grand final between Kenwick and Gosnells proved to be a glowing endorsement of the week off.

Kenwick began the grand final best with an early goal by former WA 18s representative Aaron Bowers and some brilliance by Les Sharp took the Royals to a 13-point lead by quarter time.

For the next two quarters the game ebbed and flowed with both teams running the ball well and putting on plenty of pressure.

Chris Kercheval was dangerous in the forward line for Gosnells while Chris Kessell provided the Hawks with some exciting run from defence.

Kenwick led by just two points at the last break but as the final quarter progressed you could almost see Gosnells wilt after its tough finals campaign. The Royals kicked five goals to two in the last quarter to win by 27 points, the final margin proving a little unfair to the Hawks after an excellent grand final.

Kenwick's Geoff Prew was named the best player on the ground after a typically hard-working display. Prew won some important contested possessions when the going was tough early in the game.

Leigh Nagle put in an inspired performance after starting on the bench and kicked four goals. If he'd taken the opportunities he created for himself in the last quarter he could have finished with seven goals.

Bowers also kicked four goals and the enterprising Sharp finished with three.

Kercheval got four goals for Gosnells, Kessell ran hard all day and had an intriguing battle with Lindsay Woods, who kicked two goals, and Paul Jackson also played well for the Hawks.

The win capped a hat trick of premierships for Kenwick and coach Gavin Hanley.

The Tigers won the reserves grand final and Wanneroo Kingsway won the colts.

20 September 2006

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