Green Machine grabs Waratah game by scruff of the neck
ST MARY’S coach Rick Nolan said his players needed to do whatever it took to beat Waratah, and they showed the desperation required to play finals footy with a 16.11 (107) to 9.7 (61) win at TIO Stadium yesterday.
The Green Machine blew away its opponents in the first quarter, booting seven goals to three, with tireless rover Nate Paredes having a huge day.
“I’m happy with everything except that last quarter,” Nolan said.
“They kicked two goals at the end. I know they got numbers behind the footy, but I would’ve liked to kick on.
“We’ve built from playing two quarters to three. We’re heading in the right direction. Paredes was terrific.”
The brilliant Francis Kinthari had a hand in his team’s second after a long kick into the forward 50 by Jaden McGrath.
Kinthari then went short to Paredes, who found Maurice Rioli Jnr, half-volleying through for a major.
Paredes and McGrath combined again in the 17th minute, the ball magnet sprinting clear from the bounce to find McGrath who did not miss, giving Saints a 13-point lead.
A Nick Yarran intercept mark before sprinting away and finding Luke Bath, who curled in a beautiful left-foot snap, then a high Peter MacFarlane mark and goal from 40m out, gave the Saints a comfortable 29-point lead.
Waratah did have a moment of brilliance in the first term, with Justin Beugelaar’s booming 52m goal, but the Green Machine held firm to win the second quarter two goals to one.
“We were a bit flat today. We made too many mistakes early,” Waratah coach Michael McLean said.
“We have to forget today. We have to respect how hard Saints used the ball. It’s hard to put pressure on when you turn the ball over. But we played out the game which was great.”
Saints exploded in the third term, kicking five goals to two. Nolan would have been happy with ruckman Ryan Smith and midfielders Luke Bath and Jack Geary.
For Waratah, Tim Mosquito was once again electric off halfback, and he kicked a scintillating goal on the run from 30m out, snapping truly after pouncing on the crumb. WARATAH V ST MARY’S BEST 3.3 4.6 6.7 9.7 7.1 9.6 14.7 16.11 GOALS UMPIRES That was late in the third term when it was too little, too late, the red-and-whites looking at a 49-point margin at that stage.