Langhorne Creek are through to their third Grand Final in a row after a thrilling one point victory over Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) second semi-final at Willunga on Saturday. The Hawks will go into the 2020 decider looking for three flags on the trot. Encounter Bay started the game well to lead by 11 points at quarter time and at one stage in the second term led by as much as 29 points, before the Hawks hit back to reduce the margin to a manageable 18 points at halftime. Langhorne Creek kicked three goals to none in the third quarter to hit the front at the last change by just two points and a big finish was on the cards. The Bays wrestled back momentum in the final quarter with the first three goals to skip out to a 17-point lead and they had one foot in the grand final. Langhorne Creek would not be denied as they kicked three goals in a row before a string of behinds saw them cling on to win 10.12 (72) to 11.5 (71). Curtis Perrey, Jarrod Kellock and Lachie McGregor all kicked two goals for the reigning premiers while Josh Graham kicked three majors for Encounter Bay. Tom Derham, James Sellar, Kellock, Perrey, Troy Blackwell and Jake Dominish were best for the Hawks while for Encounter Bay, Tyson Neale, Wade Sweetman, Daniel Toole, Tyler Baldock and Fraser Tonkin were named in their best players.

Willunga has knocked McLaren out of the 2020 season with a 44-point win in the first semi-final at Yankalilla on Sunday. McLaren only lost one game in the minor round but sadly went out of the finals in ‘straight sets’. Willunga started well to lead by 14 points at quarter time and extended their lead to a handy 22 points by halftime. The third term was an entertaining and high scoring one with 12 goals being kicked as the Demons pulled away further to lead by 36 points heading into the final stanza. A further three goals to one in the last term saw Willunga win convincingly 18.11 (119) to 10.15 (75). Sam Renney was a star up forward for Willunga as he slotted seven goals. Daniel Lee and Myles Warmington also kicked three goals for the Demons. Jordon Mutton had an excellent game to be named best for McLaren as he kicked four goals. Best players for the triumphant Willunga outfit included Sam Tregenza, Renney, Jake Standfield, Brad Haskett and Cameron Hutchens. Apart from Mutton, other good players for McLaren were Kiefver Zohar, Jake Rowe, Max Wakefield and Stuart Green.

Preliminary Final fixtures (26/9/20 @ Victor Harbor)

‘A’ Grade: Encounter Bay v Willunga (2.30pm)

‘B’ Grade: Willunga v Langhorne Creek (12.45pm)

Senior Colts: Langhorne Creek v Willunga (11.15am)

Junior Colts: Strathalbyn v Willunga (9.50am)