THE long awaited clash between Boston and Marble Range to decide fourth spot won't go down as a spectacular game but a tough hard fought struggle played in very windy conditions.
One of the biggest crowds seen at Poole for a long time saw the Rangers hold onto their fourth spot by defeating the Tigers by just under three goals.
The Rangers had one of their strongest teams for the year as Charman, back from work commitments, Gregory, Oatway and Semmler recovered from injuries while Boston regained Brett Watherston.
The Rangers started with Ackland in the ruck while Scott Charman was at full forward with Semmler along side him in the pocket. Brett Watherston lined up at full forward for Boston.
The first 10 minutes of the first quarter saw a lot of boundary throw-ins in front of the clubrooms. Both teams had their fair share of the ball but with the amount of pressure and the wind playing havoc both were badly off line shooting for goal.
Semmler was the focal point for the Rangers and got early touches, but Jack Arton and Steve Farquarson were getting their share of the ball repelling the Rangers.
At the other end Sunny Singh was far too experienced for the young Wade Hanson and could have easily had two goals in this quarter except both shots fell short.
It was Rhys Marsh who got the first goal of the match with a great snap after crumbing the ball off the pack.
Marble Range immediately hit back as Tokarski got the ball out of centre to Semmler who hit the square with a long kick and Sean Oatway soccered the ball through for a goal.
With only minutes left in the quarter the Tigers got the ball into their forward lines through the hard work of Polkinghorne and Hywood, but Jarrod Doudle, just as he has done in the last month, was ever reliable and impassable as he took a couple of telling marks in the square.
At the siren the Rangers had their noses in front 1-5 to 1-3.
With Watson at full forward, Charman went into ruck and for the first five minutes of the second quarter the Rangers had the ball in their 50 metre area until Michael Simpson broke the deadlock with a good snap goal out of the pack to get the Rangers on the board first.
Zac Calderwood worked his way into the game while Jack Sampson and Adam Hywood were having a good duel with both players covering a lot of ground.
When Sampson was freed after a head high tackle a long handball to Semmler saw him kick one of his trademark long goals from 50 and minutes later Paul Theodosiou gave a 50-metre penalty to Semmler. He had his second and the Rangers were pulling away on the scoreboard.
The Boston backline was under pressure as the Rangers were surging forward and if it hadn't been for the likes of Carr, Arbon and Leigh Watherston they might have busted the game right open.
With players like Scott Blacker, Wyatt Tiller and Marsh still playing well the Tigers were getting the ball up forward where Singh was proving a handful for Hanson. With a free in his 50 metre Singh goaled and within minutes had his second for the quarter after a great pass from Theodosiou. Bostons got the ball out of the centre immediately through Marsh but were held up by Sampson who combined with Calderwood to get the ball to Gregory, and finished off with a great goal.
When Watson took a strong mark in the square and played on to goal the Rangers had a comfortable lead at half time 6-9 to 3-5.
Boston started the third quarter attacking through Blacker and Minhard and Dan King got onto a long kick which sailed through for a much needed goal.
The Tigers put Singh onto the ball and this started to pay dividends as they were getting the ball out of centre but like most times this year Doudle, Scott, Smith and co were holding them up in the backlines.
Zac Calderwood, with a great individual effort on the clubroom wing, got the ball to Watson who kicked his second for the match before Semmler goaled for his third.
The last five minutes of the quarter saw a melee between both sides with Boyd West and Rhys Marsh sent off. Theodosiou gave another 50 metre penalty away but was let off when Charman missed a sitter in front, to put the Rangers well in front at three quarter time 8-13 to 4-7.
Boston started the last quarter attacking from the centre and Kaden Hull had two chances but bad kicking let his team down.
It was left to Blacker and Minhard to combine for Minhard to goal.
Boston came out of the centre again but once again Doudle was there to take a couple of telling marks in the last line of defence.
With Marsh and West both allowed back on they both immediately got into the play with West getting the ball into his goal square where Oatway kicked his second goal off the ground, while at the other end Marsh received a pass from Polkinghorne and goaled.
Polkinghorne was involved minutes later when he ran into an open goal and kicked Boston's third goal for the quarter.
With a long kick into goal from Gregory, Watson outmarked a couple of opponents but unfortunately missed the goal, which was the last scoring shot of the match and saw the Rangers run out winners 9-15 to 7-11.
Once again the best players for the Rangers were Doudle, Brooks and Scott. Semmler had a lot of the ball but a couple of undisciplined acts hurt his side near goal. Zac Calderwood must be near the most improved for the Rangers this year with his attack on the ball.
Steven Tokarski's hard work in the packs must be telling on his body as week in week out he puts his body on the line.
Boston were best served by Rhys Marsh and their captain Leigh Watherston, who is always taking on the tall players every week, Wyatt Tiller, Scott Blacker and Jack Anton in defence was a tireless worker.
n By Andy Page
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