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SANDHURST had the better of the last three quarters against Strathfieldsaye on Saturday to win the BFNL reserves grand final at the QEO.
The reigning premier Storm made a blistering start when Josh Martyn marked and goaled inside the opening minute and at quarter-time Strathfieldsaye led 2.2 to 0.1.
But over the remaining three quarters an imposing Sandhurst side that featured 16 players who had played seniors this year assumed control and outscored the Storm 12 goals to four.
The final margin was 32 points in favour of the Dragons, who won 12.5 (77) to 6.9 (45) in what was the club’s fourth reserves premiership in the past seven years as it continued a recent trend of winning a flag every second season – 2012, 2014, 2016 and now 2018.
One of the most memorable moments of the grand final for the Dragons came late when Jotham Higgs kicked a goal and premiership coach Bryce Fitzpatrick explained why after the game.
“Higgsy has previously been dropped for three reserves grand finals, so for him to come on and kick a goal at the end was huge and great to see,” Fitzpatrick said.
“It was great we were able to get a win for him.”
The R.F. Turner Medal for best on ground was won by Sandhurst’s Brodie Montague, who had spent the previous two weeks as part of the Dragons’ senior finals campaign.
Montague slotted five goals – his first coming in the second quarter and four after half-time.
It was a grand final of missed opportunities for Strathfieldsaye.
At one stage during the third quarter the Storm had 11 scoring shots to nine on the board, but trailed by 18 points as the Dragons led 7.2 to 3.8.
“We’ve worked really hard on the basic things all year and they paid off for us today,” Fitzpatrick said.
Tim Jansen, who kicked a goal in the final quarter, was named best for the Storm, who had Wade Donnan stretchered off early in the last quarter.
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