By George, ex-Dolphin fires for Townsville
A THIRD WNBL championship is within reach for the Townsville Fire and former Cairns Dolphin Cayla George after they eliminated the Sydney Uni Flames with a twogame sweep in the semi-finals.
The Flames ended Townsville’s quest for a fifth successive grand final appearance at the same stage last season but the Fire exacted some revenge with a dramatic 68-65 win on Saturday to advance to the championship round.
The Fire dominated at home in Thursday night’s opener but game two went down to the wire.
George grabbed eight rebounds and put in 13 points in the semi-final, clinching victory.
The Fire will now host the Melbourne Boomers in the first match of their best-of-three grand final series at Townsville Stadium on Saturday.
■ THE Melbourne Stars are in free fall following a six-wicket Big Bash League derby loss to the Renegades but their Far North opener found some form.
Ben Dunk returned to form with a top score of 47 but the Renegades coasted to the win with 13 balls to spare on Saturday night at the MCG.
The Renegades went to the top with a 4-1 record. The Stars are bottom on 0-4.
Kevin Pietersen scored 40 from 30 balls on Saturday night but the Stars lost their way when he was dismissed midway through the innings, ending his 71-run partnership with Dunk.
The Stars do not play again until Friday night, when they play the return Melbourne derby at Etihad Stadium.
■ A LATE goal to Port Douglas skipper Kye Chapple was not enough to lift Wanderers over Darwin on Saturday afternoon in Darwin.
Wanderers staged a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback, having gone into the final break 29 points down.
A Chapple major with less than two minutes remaining levelled the scores, but Christopher Williams saved the Buffs with a goal on the run from 40m out inside the final 60 seconds.
Fellow Crocs big man Josh Wilson led the Wanderers ruck division.