Saints lift Fortescue trophy

A half-time rev-up sparked a third quarter blitz for the Paraburdoo Saints, who went on to win the Fortescue National Football League premiership over the Tom Price Panthers 12.15 (87) to 7.7 (49) this month.

Saints had the home ground advantage but Panthers were no slouches, having won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013.

Paraburdoo rushed and gave up the ball though unforced errors during the first quarter and failed to control the centre stoppages.

A brain fade in the second opened the door for Panthers, who booted five goals through clean ball movement and good structures to take the lead at the half-time break 5.5 (35) to 3.5 (23).

Saints coach Simon Ponter said the half-time break was a big wake up call.

“The demand was made and the group responded with our most dominant quarter of football for the year, we completely shut the Panthers down in the third by playing our brand of footy,” he said.

They don’t call it the premiership quarter for nothing.

The Saints put up 42 points as they dominated the centre clearances winning the majority of taps and getting out quickly and freely.

Panthers did their best to muster their courage to come back at the Saints in the fourth, but could not halt Saints from scoring nor boot enough of their own to pull off the comeback as the sides went goal for goal.

Ponter said the game was played hard and fair and both sides put on a good show of football skill which they could be proud of.

“I could not have been prouder of all the boys on the night, a well-deserved win for the hard work we’d put in through the year,” he said.