North and Roopena slugged out a very entertaining game of football on Friday night at Bennett Oval in what was one the best games of the year.
Magpies eventually came out victors in the closing stages by seven points.
Umpires Clayton and Stringer were in charge, conditions were good for football, a two goal breeze favoured the Westland end.
Both clubs had players missing namely Harding, Prokopec and Thomas for the Pies and Burgess, Elliot, Brereton for the Roos.
It was obvious from the first bounce both sides had come to play, this was no dead rubber contest.
The attack on the ball and body was fierce, the sizable crowd joined in to add to the atmosphere.
Chad Clothier was superb all night, he roamed the ground at will.
His ball getting and evasive skills were on show and he should have kicked far more goals but for nancying the football rather than kicking through the ball.
The midfield contest was a very even affair Ewings, Bodinner, Fiebig and Justin Grund assuring a ready supply of ball to the Roopena forwards where Manfield threatened in the first half but he too failed to find the goals.
Both sides were guilty of poor kicking for goal, both defences rebounded via midfield link up, which created a free flowing game mixed with some fierce body clashes, none more amplified than when Pies' Josh Trezise in a fifty-fifty contest for the ball took on Roos' Kane Grund, outgunned in body mass and height, eyes for the ball only, the clash rocked the grandstand in one of the most courageous acts I have seen for a long time.
Roopena were the better side in the first quarter, however, two timely goals by Matt Ledington kept Norths in the contest.
In the second quarter the Pies started to gel, Seymour, Menzies, Clothier all damaging and finding space, once again poor kicking for goal would cost them but by half time both sides had had equal scoring shots but no side could break clear in this absorbing entertaining contest.
Half time scores: Roos 6.8, Norths 4.10
The third quarter in hindsight is where Norths won the game with an early goal from Aaron Ledington then a great snap goal from Menzies a minute later and the game was all tied up, then at the eighth minute Clothier goaled, the Pies appeared to have stolen the momentum and would run away with the game but to Roopena's credit they tightened up.
Kane Grund and Seely were superb in defence.
Roos youngsters Jake Burgoyne and Chris Webster showed maturity beyond their years and were valuable contributors all night.
The game travelled from half-back to half-back, the intensity lifted once again, the crowd became even more vocal and the midfield arm wrestle continued both defences were on top.
Roopena's only goal for the quarter game from Manfield on the siren to set up an epic last quarter.
Three quarter time scores: Roos 7.8, Norths 7.12.
The last quarter was a great contest, Dale Williams who had been useful put the Roos back in front after a great weaving dodging goal, then at the eleven minute mark Seymour intercepted a defensive error to put the Pies back in front by four points.
Then at the 14 minute mark youngster Jake Burgoyne goaled to restore a two point lead for the Roos, all during this period there was action aplenty.
The tackling by both clubs was great and the pressure applied was intense, and when the gifted Menzies produced a goal the Pies hit the front once again.
Norths continued to attack but could only register two behinds.
In the dying minutes, Roopena pushed forward once again in an attempt to goal, which would have tied the ball game but were denied by a stoic North defence and on the rebound the best man on the ground, Chad Clothier, ended up with the last scoring shot of the game to kick a point to increase the lead to seven points.
With one minute on the clock a dogged Roopena side had run its race in what had been a wonderful game of football.
Finals football kicks off next week, which is the most anticipated final series for a long time.
Roopena take on South in the first semi final on Saturday and will go in as the underdog.
On the Friday night, West take on Norths, the winner going through to the grand final.
This game could well be one of the most entertaining games seen in Whyalla for a long time, it surely is a fifty-fifty contest and worthy of a huge crowd.
If Aaron Smith plays, I lean toward the young Dragon side.
If he does not play, the boys from Wileman Street will just get across the line.
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