The Forestville Eagles men will have a tilt at a second successive premiership after defeating the Norwood Flames 102-74 at Wayville on Saturday.

The Flames had beaten the Eagles twice during the regular season, but Norwood-Forestville clashes have a habit of producing the unexpected, and this game was no exception.

The Eagles will play Sturt in the Grand Final, whom they lost to 72-73 in the Second Semi Final.

The game was in the balance after the first quarter, with the Eagles leading 20-17, before they took charge in a second quarter blitz.

Adam Doyle was electrifying, getting to the basket and finding his teammates for open looks.

Brad Haydon and Brad Sullivan were on-song from mid-range, while Rashad Tucker and Neil Mottram were all over the Flames’ bigs.

When James Boonstoppel hit a long-running three-pointer on half-time, the Eagles were out to a 55-34 advantage.

The Flames continued to have no answer in the third quarter; renowned Eagle-killer Andrew Webber showing his frustration with an unsportsmanlike foul on Sullivan.

When Mottram scored with 1.18 remaining in the quarter, the lead was out to an astonishing 37 points.

For the remained of the quarter, the Eagles got sloppy for the first time of the night; Brian Moultrie, Todd Matthews and Matthew Lycett pouncing on turnovers from Doyle, Tucker and Mottram to give the scoreline a slightly more competitive look at 53-82.

The Flames have had a history of escaping with victory over the Eagles in finals from the jaws of defeat, but this time the task ahead of them was greater than the strength within them.

They got as close as 22 off a Webber three with 4.28 remaining, before a spectacular finish from Doyle while drawing contact put the Flames’ rally to rest.

With 2.36 remaining and a 98-69 lead, Eagles coach Andy Simons emptied his bench, allowing Chris Tormet, John Wernham and fan-favourite Charles Newland to see off the game’s final moments.

Doyle was the Player of the Game with 22 points, 12 assists and 3 steals, while playing the first 37.14 of the match.

Tucker was also outstanding, limiting the impact of Flames star Moultrie (21 points, 10 rebounds) while picking up 19 boards and scoring 17 points himself.

Sullivan finished with 17 points, while Mottram and Haydon scored 15 apiece.

The Eagles scored an extra 20 points from the foul-line, making 28/33 free throws, compared to the Flames abysmal 8/22.

They also shot 48 per cent from the field to the Flames’ 40 per cent, and pulled down 47 rebounds to 36.

Moultrie was the Flames’ high-point man, while Lycett scored 12 and Matthews 11.

It was a disappointing end to the Flames’ campaign after rallying from a 4-6 record to make it all the way to the Preliminary Final.

Elsewhere, it was not such an Eagle-fest, with the Flames women coming from behind at three quarter-time to defeat the Eagles 65-64.

Jess Foley was the hero, making two free throws with six seconds remaining.

The Flames women will meet North Adelaide in the Grand Final.

The Rockets won their Second Semi Final meeting with the Flames 83-78.

By James Woite