The Hornets fought hard in a tough semi final last night however it was the Donx who executed better and took the win 44 - 24.
It was always going to be tough for the Hornets and the last minute loss of Mervin Luiang due to illness didn’t help. The Donx named a strong team and were up for the challenge.
The boulders were tough. It’s the semi final so this was always going to be the case where the finer nuances really matter and the devil is in the detail.
Both teams seemed to manage player positions well throughout the game so tonight it came down to execution and the Donx were able to take their chances when they presented themselves.
Boulder A had a physically hard three step sequence to zone 2 on an overhanging 30 degree wall that only Fred Eather and Liam Smith from the Donx managed to pull through that gave the Donx an early 6 point lead.
Boulder B had a relatively easy zone 1 but brutal zone 2 sequence. Both teams clearly struggled here and in the end both teams focused on alternate beta. Lachie French of the Hornets and Fred both found a way and topped out and the Donx went into the half-time break in front 19 - 12 in a hard-fought first half. .
Boulder C was where the Donx really took control of the game and the second half opened up.
The toe-catch start to zone 1 sequence was unpacked quickly from both teams but it was Fred coming out as breaker for the Donx who unraveled the complex dynamic sequence that followed which opened up time for the team to capitalise. Nikala Murray and Liam Smith both worked hard and ultimately topped to extend the lead by 10 points and they had the win in the bag at this point. Kyle Fensbo of the Hornets came ever-so-close but this is where the game pulled away from the team in green.
Boulder D involved an awkward combination that’s often challenging to pull together in the moment. Both teams had to work hard here. Ben Hope ended up topping for the Hornets which was a fitting end to the season from the popular leader. For the Donx it was Liam and Fred who topped and extended their lead by a further 3 points.
That’s now the end of the Hornets A Grade campaign. It's been a tough 2024 season but it’s easy to lose sight of how far things have come when teams and players from all clubs are growing so rapidly.
For the Donx, it’s into the grand final next Saturday (29 Jun) against the minor premiers the Honey Badgers.
They’ll take plenty out of this game. They read the boulders well and were composed in pressure moments. They’ll take a moment's rest before resetting themselves and aim up for the main event in a little under two weeks.
17 Jun 2024