Seven-goal hero Sam Garland helped Cairns Saints to their first of two flags on Saturday in a ripping battle against North Cairns in the reserves grand final. The two sides traded the lead in the final quarter, but it was Garland who started and finished if off for Saints. He kicked the first goal of the quarter and also the last to seal the 17.6 (108) to 11.12 (78) victory. It was hardly comfortable though, and looked like it wouldn't happen when North Cairns reserves player-coach Wes Lord booted his second from 45m to give his side the lead. "It was a really great game of footy," Saints reserves coach Leo Galea said. "We had to earn that. "They were pumping us through the middle there and at three quarter time I said we needed to lift our midfield and they were able to respond. "I am very proud of them." He said his players' ability to fight back and take the lead in the final term characterised their resiliance and attitude to take out the premiership. Norths had a 14-point lead during the third term, that was after trailing by as many as 24 in the second. Much of the see-sawing battle was also due to the breeze, which was strangely blowing in the opposite direction to how it normally blows at Cazalys. It didn't worry Sam Garland, who was potting goals from everywhere. A Garland goal got Saints back within three points and stopped Norths' momentum just shy of the final quarter. He kicked another at the start of the final term from the difficult right pocket to regain the lead and then he celebrated on his back when a diving effort sailed through the big sticks in the games' final moments. The game was remach of the second semi-final, which Norths won in unusual fashion when Saints were docked all their points in the final quarter for having an extra man on the field. They led by 54 points at that stage only to mount a remarkable comeback to fall just two points shy of what would have been a remarkable win a forthingt ago. Before that semi-final, Saints had lost just one match in their previous 18 during the home and away season and look to be unchallenged for the reserves premiership. North coach Wes Lord said they knew Saints would be coming hard this time. "Because of what happened in that game, we knew it was going to be a very fiery contest and we were ready for the challenge," Lord said on the dais post-game. "It was a fantastic game and well done to Saints."
Last Modified on 04/12/2012 09:41