Border Districts created a second half surge to come from behind and defeat Kingston on the weekend to keep their finals chances alive.
Kingston got off to a flying start in the first quarter by kicking three goals through Travis Burns, Campbell Watts and Jack Harding to open up a 20-point lead by quarter time. The margin could have been bigger as Kingston had seventeen inside 50's and recorded just three goals from it. Travis Burns, Chad Wood, Henrie Lawrie, Ben Warner, Campbell and Will Watts had plenty of it early. Luke Watson in his A Grade debut was showing that he belonged with a few confident touches early. Border Districts backline did a great job restricting Kingston to just three goals in the quarter considering how many times Kingston went inside 50. Ben Walter and Dylan Auciello were staunch in defence and trying to keep the Eagles in the game despite the constant inside 50's by Kingston. Kingston was ahead by 20-points at the first change.
The second quarter was a real defensive kind of game as both team's defensive structures were on top. Kingston went ahead by 26-points at the six-minute mark after Brett Simpson kicked a goal. The Eagles finally got on the scoreboard as Mark Quinn got the home team's first goal of the game at the 19-minute mark of the second quarter. Borders midfield were starting to get their side back in to the game as they lifted their work rate. Mark Quinn, Fraser Adams and Mitchell Coles were lifting around the ground and the Eagles looked right back in it in the general contest. Jacob Fisher, Jack Tapfield and Campbell Watts were battling hard for the Saints in the backline for the Saints. Brett Simpson was providing much needed run for the Saints. Kingston went in to half time 20-points ahead of the Eagles.
Border Districts came out fired up after half time and they started to win clearances and get shots on goal early in the third quarter. The Eagles started the quarter in great fashion as they got a goal through Harrison Pretlove. Todd Lockwood replied for the Saints with a goal, but the Eagles got another goal through Nick Schild as he was starting to get free in the forward lines. Todd Lockwood once again got a goal for Kingston as the Saints lead was pushed out to 20-points at the 18-minute mark of the third quarter. Henry Lawrie, Brett Simpson and Will Watts were providing the Saints with a lot of drive through the midfield. Luke Watson was impressive in his A Grade debut; he provided some strong leads and took some great marks. Borders stayed close to the Saints and a late goal to Zac Edwards towards the end of the quarter had the Eagles close enough to the Saints. The Saints went in to three quarter time 13-points ahead.
Borders came out swinging in the fourth quarter as they got right on top in the ruck and midfield. Mitchell Coles, Fraser Adams and Mark Quinn were working hard and getting the ball forward as the home side started to take advantage of their work. Nick Schild started to get free and open in the forward lines as he kicked the Eagles first two goals of the fourth quarter to get the scores back to level by the 5-minute mark. The Eagles got another clearance out of the midfield and suddenly the home side was in front by the seven-minute mark after Blake Helyer put through another goal to put the Eagles up by six points. Kingston then defended the best they could as the Eagles kept getting the ball forward. Jacob Fisher, Ben Rogers, Jack Tapfield and Campbell Watts were standing up under the Eagles pressure and had to rush quite a few behinds to stop the home side from getting goals. Borders finally got the goal they were looking for as Weston Rata got away to put the Eagles up by 16-points and in a strong position at the 25-minute mark of the fourth quarter. Will Watts kept battling hard in the midfield, but the pressure applied by the Eagles made the disposals contested and hard to get to free team mates. The Eagles in the end had kept their finals chances alive by having a stunning win and hurting the Saints top three chances in the process as the Saints dropped from second to fifth on the ladder. Borders deserved the victory as they played great team football in the second half.