September 21, 2020
Both South Burnett Saints teams are through to Week 2 of the AFL Darling Downs finals after securing wins in low-scoring games at Lyle Vidler Oval in Kingaroy on Saturday.
Four elimination finals – including two junior games – were played before a large crowd, mostly parked around the oval.
In the main women’s game, the Saints defeated Goondiwindi 3.9-27 to 2.3-15.
The game was marred by an ugly incident which left Saints player Mikeely Roberts suffering facial injuries.
Roberts was carried from the field on a spinal board as a precaution before being transported to Kingaroy Hospital by ambulance.
A Goondiwindi player allegedly involved was yellow-carded by the referee.
An AFL Darling Downs spokesperson confirmed the incident had been reported and was now being investigated.
Saints’ goals were kicked by Kiara Wright, Keeley Walker and Hayley Ellison.
The men’s sudden-death game, against the Dalby Swans, was a close fought match with the lead changing after the first quarter.
At half-time, South Burnett has their noses ahead 4.5-29 to 3.4-22 and kept the Swans in check for the rest of the game.
The final score was 5.11-41 to 4.7-31.
In the earlier games, Toowoomba 7.7-49 defeated Dalby Swans 3.4-22 in Under 14s and Coolaroo 10.16-76 downed the Swans 1.1-7 in Under 12s.
The men’s and women’s Saints now face a road trip to Goondiwindi next Saturday for the Preliminary Finals.
The men will take on minor premiers Goondiwindi for a chance at a Grand Final spot while the women will play the South Toowoomba Bombers for the opportunity to face the Toowoomba Tigers in the Grand Final.
Both Grand Finals will be played on October 3 in Toowoomba.
