Langhorne Creek have won their third ‘A’ grade premiership in a row following a convincing 61-point triumph over Encounter Bay in the Great Southern Football League (GSFL) grand final at Langhorne Creek on Saturday. The game was a rematch of the second semi-final where the Hawks prevailed by a point and on a hot spring day, that week off proved to be vital for the reigning back-to-back premiers. Encounter Bay got off to the perfect start as their skipper, Tyson Neale kicked the first goal of the match but Langhorne Creek bounced back quickly with two goals of their own. The Bays finished the quarter well as they added three more goals through James Bradford, Andrew Fyfe and Callum Tonkin to take a handy 13-point lead into the first break. The Creeks had use of the slight breeze blowing to the southern end in the second quarter and they started well with playing-coach James Sellar taking a contested mark and converting before Gary Karpany answered quickly with his first major for the Bays. The Hawks started to get on top as they kicked the next three goals to hit the front before Karpany levelled things up with an excellent set shot from a tight angle in the forward pocket. With five minutes left in the first half the scores were all locked up at 7.5 (47) apiece and with seven lead changes already, we were set up for a classic. The reigning premier had other ideas as they slammed on three late goals through Mitch Cleggett, his third for the term, Jake Dominish and Matt Dominish to take an 18-point lead at halftime, 10.5 (65) to 7.5 (47). 

Encounter Bay were still well and truly in the game and needed to make use of the breeze to the southern end in the ‘premiership quarter’. The term became a real arm wrestle, just as Langhorne Creek would’ve wanted, and the Hawks managed to kick three goals to one and turn for home with a 27-point lead and a vocal home crowd behind them. Sellar limped off the ground halfway through the third term which sent a scare through the Langhorne Creek camp but he was back on in the last quarter to kick a further two goals as the Creeks ran away with the game booting eight goals to two to win 21.6 (132) to 10.11 (71). The Hawks kicked an incredible 11.1 after halftime. Sellar finished with four goals for Langhorne Creek and he was ably supported by Mitch Cleggett, Lachie McGregor and Matt Tonkin who all kicked three goals. Karpany and Josh Graham each kicked two goals for the Bays. Matt Tonkin played a fantastic game to be named best on ground. Joining him in the Hawks best players were Matt Dominish, Tom Derham, Alex Cleggett, Troy Blackwell and Ben Arbon. Best players for Encounter Bay were Bradford, Thomas Neville, Wade Sweetman, Josh Marshall and Fyfe.

In the reserve grade, Langhorne Creek got the day off to a great start on their home deck as they held out a brave McLaren Eagles outfit to win by a point, 6.3 (39) to 5.8 (38). The Hawks didn’t kick a goal in the second half and McLaren did all the attacking in the last quarter but could only manage a wayward 1.4 for the term as the Hawks held on. Graydon Brand was a tower of strength all day for the winners to be named best on ground.

The senior colts and junior colts grand finals were played yesterday at Strathalbyn with Goolwa/Port Elliot completing an undefeated season with a 39-point win over Willunga while Encounter Bay defeated Willunga by 12 points in the senior colts.