Ten minutes of football cost Diggers Rest against Rupertswood in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
The Burras led by one point at half time and looked poised to make a real contest of it in the second half.
PICTURE GALLERY: Diggers Rest v Rupertswood
If anything, the Burras had the better run of the first half but couldn’t translate it to the scoreboard.
But after the main break it was all Rupo, who kept the Burras to two goals while kicking seven of their own in a 12.10 (82) to 7.12 (54) win.
Burras coach Shaun Sims said it was 10 minutes in the third quarter that killed his side.
“With Rupo you have to really scrap and make it hard to get ball movement,” he said.
“We went away from what we were doing in the first half and it was disappointing.
“Our key forwards didn’t kick any goals and didn’t play too well, but our ball movement didn’t help.
“It would have been good to get the win heading into finals, but we will concentrate on this week now.”
Rupo coach Ben Jordan said his side was confident it could run out games..
“This wasn’t too dissimilar to a few of our games this year,” he said in the rooms after the game.
“We lifted the intensity a bit and our tackling and contested ball work lifted.
“Maybe we were a little off after the bye, but Diggers Rest is a dangerous side and we expected them to start well.”
Jordan was pleased with how the match-ups worked at the defensive end.
“They have three or four key forwards and we applied pressure from the midfield to affect the disposal into the 50, which helped our match-ups,” he said.
The win was all the more pleasing as Rupo was missing at least five of its best 22. Two of them, key forwards Josh Smerdon and Dan Jordan, look set to return for the first final.
The Burras will face Sunbury Kangaroos, who beat them last time they played, at MacPherson Park on Sunday,
“It will be completely different teams on the park,” Sims said.
“They’re in good form but, hopefully, we’ll have just about a full list to choose from.”
Rupo’s win means it will play Romsey in the first week of the finals. Romsey won by five points last time they met, but Rupo hasn’t lost since.
“We just want to play our best footy and we’re just happy to play finals,” Sims said.
In other finals, third-placed Riddell will face Rockbank.
