Lever and Hurn need 256 for the Smugglers to snatch an unlikely victory. A fair way behind the required run rate at HT in the Crows-WCE game.
The Buffaloes look like they're pretty much done with scoring for the day but have put up a reasonable total and will be clinging on while Dusty Martin is doing everything he can to inspire the Smugglers to victory Serengeti 1414/15/94 v Christmas Island 1159/13/89 Will take massive efforts from players like Lever & ex-Buffalo Hurn to wrench the hands of the Buffaloes off the 2017 ORFFU premiership cup
Congrats to @wrightbrendan , far too good on the day and well deserved after the great season the Buffaloes had. Looking forward to the rematch in season 2018!!
Congrats to the Buffalos @wrightbrendan in their GF win, and well fought match put up by the Smugglers @DamoH
Awesome stuff @wrightbrendan ! Congrats on taking out the 2017 FU Premiership! Top stuff @DamoH for getting to the last match of the season
Well done to both Serengeti and Christmas Island. Congratulations to the Buffalos @wrightbrendan on becoming 2017 ORFFU Premiers. Any news on the biggest loser?
As an Eagles fan..... WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO As a footy fan, I'd much rather see the Dees in the finals than the Dons.
Thanks all! Final scores of Serengeti 1417 def Christmas Island 1332 Full match report to come Very satisfying for the culmination of some long term plans to come together. Hope this victory offers hope to those in the lower reaches of the ORRFU ladder that things can be turned around!
A great achievement mate; both you & I came from nowhere last season. As you said some good planning and trading can make all the difference, there's hope for everyone.
It had all come down to this. Two Grand Final debutants pitted against each other with the ultimate prize of 2017 premiership glory on offer. Would the fairytale run of the Smugglers continue having only claimed the last spot in the finals on the last day of the season or would the home town Buffaloes create their own fairytale and finish off their first ever finals series with victory in the only one that really counted. There were hotly anticipated match ups all over the ground starting with Big Tap rivals Mummy & Kreuzer in the ruck, BAFFU medal rivals Danger & Dusty to ex-Smugglers Dixon & Harbrow battling ex-Buffaloes Hurn, Dunstan & Deledio. Both teams had been in red-hot form during the finals series and the stage was set for an epic encounter down in The Crater of Serengeti. In-form forward Isaac Smith (114) started the game on fire for the Smuigglers and was taking advantage of any opportunity that was presented to him. His efforts inspired Deledio (92) to put in his best efforts against his old teammates but it was an ex-teammate of the Smugglers who quelled the influence of the rest of the forward line. May (81) & Langdon (82) did enough to keep things from getting out of control but it was the non-selected Jarrod Harbrow that was taking it to his ex-teammates. Fresh and full of bravado from tonning up in the days earlier reserves grand final Harbrow spent the afternoon using intimate knowledge of his ex-teammates to heckle from behind the fence deep in the Christmas Island forward line and it seemed to have an effect on youngsters Lewy Taylor (53) & Bailey Dale (63). Up the other end of the ground it was another ex-Smuggler causing the visiting team trouble with Charlie Dixon (106) continuing his career best season but ex-Buffalo Shannon Hurn (113) was making sure it wasn't only ex's from the Island that would have a say on this contest. Jack Riewoldt (83) chipped in with a few late goals to keep the Buffaloes ticking along but overall the tall Buffaloes forward line was well held by a solid Smuggler defensive unit. Ultimately though this one was decided in the middle. Despite Matty Kreuzer (98) dominating Mummy (66) in the ruck the Buffaloes strength of midfield quality depth come to the fore and were able to overcome a determined Christmas Island squad that had some good quality top end performances but too many who weren't able to bring their best to the big occasion. Captain Danger (163) led from the front yet again and his young charges Merrett (135), Kelly (106) came along for the ride while more seasoned veterans JPK (117) & Scott Selwood (128) more than did their bit. So despite Dusty (146) playing his absolute heart out and onther 'ex' Dunstan (106) performing well against their old club the fairtyale would have a happy ending for Serengeti while the story for the Smugglers came to a sad end despite it being an entertaining and exciting journey right to the final moments. 2017 ORRFU Grand Final scores Serengeti Buffaloes 1417 def Chritmas Island Smugglers 1332 So despite some nervous moments on the day after no less than 5 players had performed at century type levels in the reserves grand final and had the coach wringing his hands and stressing over how he would explain his selection decisions to the board, the Buffaloes were succesful in their quest to bring the ORRFU premiership cup across the Indian Ocean and settled in Serengeti for at least one season. It was a special day for the club after the first 3 seasons of this competitive and exciting competition had not gone exactly to plan and some dark times had to be endured. Three players from the original squad had stayed the journey and been a part of the team on this succesful day while 5 others from that squad are still on the list and celebrated just as hard with their victorius teammates. In fact the whol squad of 28 were seen celebrating well into the night together with their loyal and fanatical fans and by all reports those celebrations will not be ending any time soon with the whole town ecstatic with this success. For @DamoH and the Smugglers, although they had fallen short on the day there was plenty to like about their season. With plenty of young talent around, a dominant ruckmen, a fit forward line and a sprinkling of star talent there was already talk of going one better in season 2018 and Smuggler fans that had made the voyage across the ocean to support their team left anything but disappointed. And, that is that for ORFFU season 2017. Another inredible instalment of this amazing adventure. A huge thanks to all the coaches involved for making it such a fun and enjoyable experience. After a well earned break for all we at Serengeti can't wait for season 2018!
King Island won in yet another great game between the 2 sides. The traded in Vlastuin nearly top-scored with 118 but Macrae just won with 119. Ben Brown made a solid effort even outscoring our tired forward line. But it was a game too far once again for the Whalers who have been showing promising signs but still not quite there yet. Monarchs won 1249 to 1115.