A blistering start gave North Cairns hope of a semi-final fairytale, but the Tigers could not keep up the pace and eventually fell to the preliminary-finals bound Port Douglas on Saturday at Cazalys.
The Crocs will play South Cairns this Saturday, prevailing 17.16-118 to 11.6-72 in typically windy conditions.
But the Crocs were at a standstill as Dwayne Bosen and Adam Mueller inspired a first-quarter onslaught to lead by 30 at the break.
The Tigers used their speed and atheticism to get in and around the Crocs' defence early, Bosen combining with hid midfield well to cause plenty of headaches.
But their seven-goal first quarter was eater into by Port, wh slowly established themselves and dinished the second quarter in a flurry.
Sillon Trater kicked two in the shadows of half-time and then the Crocs had another on the siren to finish a 31-minute quarter up by 10.
Damien Williams (five goals) then crept back into the action after he had climed in during the first quarter, kicking two to start the third and stretch the lead.
From there the Tigers' heavy legs showed.
Crocs ran over the top of them to stay alive and book a preliminary final with Souths this Saturday.
"We were very disappointed especially considering how well we started the game," Norths coach Dave Arnfield said. "But I think it's fair; it's provably where we deserved to be at the end of the season."
Arnfield is keen to return as coach next season after a campaign that ended in optimism. "We showed what we could do in that first quarter," Arnfield said.
"Skill wise we can compete - we just ran out of legs".
Last Modified on 17/09/2014 21:16