Storm fronts up for preliminary against Dragons

STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm fronts up to face Sandhurst in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s senior footy preliminary final on Saturday.

The showdown between Storm and the Dragons starts at 2.20pm at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street.

Winner advances to the September 21 grand final against Gisborne.

The Luke Freeman-coached Strathfieldsaye stayed in the premiership race as it won last Sunday’s first semi-final against Golden Square by eight points.

After racing to a 25-9 lead by quarter-time, Storm was under the pump as the Bulldogs won the second, 27-2.

Storm took charge in the third term as it scored 6.6 as the blue and gold added two goals.

The Brad Eaton-charged Bulldogs charged home but Storm’s tally of 1.3 to 3.4 in the last was enough to clinch a 78-70 victory.

It was a terrific effort by Storm to bounce back from a 55-point loss to Gisborne in the qualifying final.

Sandhurst is on the rebound from defeat this Saturday.

Top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away series, Sandhurst could not halt Gisborne’s run to an 89-66 victory in the second semi-final.

The Ash Connick and Bryce Curnow-coached Sandhurst won both contests with Strathfieldsaye in the home-and-away series.

The Dragons won 116-91 in Storm territory at Triple M Park in round eight and then marked a 62-32 win on the QEO turf in the 17th round.

On the netball court, Sandhurst faces Kangaroo Flat in the A-grade preliminary final at 3.20pm.

Winner meets reigning premier Gisborne in the grand final.

The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst is on the rebound from a 13-goal loss to Gisborne in the second semi-final.

The Dragons and Roos met in the qualifying final where Sandhurst won a top contest, 46-42.

It’s three-nil in favour of the Dragons against the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat.