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OLD Scotch defender Sam Lyne won back-to-back best on ground honours as his side trumped its arch-enemy St Pat’s by 57 points to claim consecutive NTFA Division 2 premierships at Youngtown Oval yesterday.
The Thistles showed their superiority after a tight first quarter, in which it took St Pat’s forward Daniel Withers 18 minutes to convert the game’s first goal.
The Saints led by one point after a low-scoring, often sluggish and fiery first 30 minutes that saw Andrew Scolyer sent to the sin bin follow a small altercation.
However, from the second stanza onwards Old Scotch led the charge – kicking five goals to two in the second quarter to lead 6.4 (40) to 3.4 (22) at half-time.
After the main break the Thistles added another five majors to their rivals’ two, but it was in the final term that the premiers really stamped their authority.
Corry Goodluck kicked three of Old Scotch’s six final term goals to finish with five for the match and led his team to a 17.9 (111) to 8.6 (54) victory.
Thistles coach Kim Curtis said his boys’ fitness had proved the key to their success.
His side has now won four of the past six grand finals and went through 2014 undefeated.
‘‘We were pretty solid all around the ground – our 50-50 ball won us the game in the end,’’ Curtis said.
‘‘The stuff earlier on in the year wasn’t good for football it just gave our boys a little motivation to get here and it worked a treat.
‘‘We will lose a couple to the State League and a couple of retirements, but we have got the strength within our twos.’’
Full-forward Shaun Muller finished with three goals for the premiers as Luke Saunders and Charles White converted two.
Lyne was impressive in picking up his second David O’Keefe Memorial Medal, while Old Scotch midfielders Jonty Swallow and Fletcher Seymour were strong contributors all day.
For St Pat’s, there were eight single goalkickers and James Millier, Paul Kelly and Matthew Barwick were their best players for the day.
Old Scotch president Nic d’Emden said it was a great day for all involved.
‘‘We have been the best team all year: full credit to Kim and the coaching staff and the players,’’ he said.
‘‘To win the day one, one I think was a fair result as St Pat’s are a good club.’’