Manly Warringah have created history in winning the Premier Division Grand Final and claiming the the Bill Hart Cup after defeating Pennant Hills by 8 points in a thriller at Blacktown. No club in the leagues history has been promoted into the top competition and won the flag which is what the Wolves were able to do.
In a cracking game of football where the lead changed reguarly throughout the day, the Wolves came from 11 points down halfway through the last to overrun the Demons and take the Premier Division premiership 11.14 to 11.6 over Pennant Hills.
On a beautiful day day for footy both teams were ready for the contest when the first ball was bounced and after an even start to the match but it was Pennant Hills with the first goal of the Grand Final. After that it was all the Wolves in the first quarter with great forward pressure keeping the ball locked in their fifty but some innaccurate kicking at goal failed to capitalize on their dominance until Lachlan Kilpatrick picked up a loose ball and drilled one through the middle from 15 metres out to get the first goal on the board for Manly Warringah. The Wolves continued to show dominance winning most of the ball around the ground but Pennant Hills worked their way back into the contest and kicked two goals near the end of the quarter to take a 20-19 lead into the first break.
The Demons took control with the wind in the 2nd quarter and their lead spat out to 19 points. The Wolves looked in trouble but dug deep kicking the next two goals and only trail by a goal at the main break.
The Wolves then came out firing in the premiership quarter goals to Magnum, Ecka and Lynchy got the lead back to the Wolves who held a goal lead going into the final, epic quarter.
Pennant Hills were the first to strike with the first 3 goals and when they held an 11 point lead the beers were looking like they were going to taste good for days. But the Wolves weren't minor premiers for nothing and when Killer snapped a goal the margin was back to five points. Ecka then bombed one from fifty which somehow sailed over a pack in the goalsquare and through for a goal the Wolves had hit the lead by a point. A Jack Lynch mark and goal from the goalsquare with under two minutes to go put the Wolves up by 8 points and the flag was their's as the siren sounded to crown Manly Warringah premiers of 2013.
Half forward Lachlan Kilpatrick ran hard all day setting up numerous attacking plays and was awarded the Rod Podbury Medal as the Best on Ground. He was well supported by backman Harrison Koch while midfielder Connor Pettersson stamped his mark on the game, in particular in the second half.
For Manly Warringah, the 2013 Premier Division premiership crowned what was an amazing year for the club after promotion into Premier Division, winning the Under 18 Division Two premiership as well as the Club Championship.
MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES
Goal Kickers: L. Kilpatrick 2, E. Burke 2, J. Lynch 2, T. Thurgarland , T. Armitage , A. Robertson , R. Hart , R. Wearne
Best Players: L. Kilpatrick, H. Koch, C. Pettersson, J. Lynch, E. Burke, J. McDonald
Last Modified on 01/10/2013 18:33