UC Stars claimed back-to-back Grand Final victories with an astonishing 11-6 win over West Canberra Lightning after extra-time with Nick Pratezina making history by hitting a double hat-trick.
A breathtaking start to the contest saw the League Champions UC Stars burst into action and get on the front foot, breaking the deadlock after only four minutes as Nick Pratezina ghosted in behind the defence, took a touch inside to open the angle, and lifted a classy finish over Jackson White-Brettell.
Three minutes later it was two as Harry Billington showed his strength and power to ride a challenge and sweep home a second as the Stars asserted their dominance. And yet Lightning know how to play finals and reduced the arrears as Ben Basser-Silk followed up a Stephen Domenici effort that was parried away by Jamie-Lee Guo.
Suddenly, the momentum swung, and Lightning equalised with a quite brilliant solo goal. Basser-Silk slalomed his way past a number of challenges to finish expertly across Guo for a simply sensational individual effort.
Lightning hit the front for the first time when Domenici cracked a shot in off the underside of the bar two minutes later, only for Pratezina to level matters up again moments later. However, a rocket from Josh Gaspari meant Lightning led by the odd-goal in seven at half-time.
Neither side were prepared to take a backward step and Pratezina equalised again three minutes after the restart hammering into the top corner to complete a first Grand Final hat-trick. But Lightning retook the lead with a well worked set-piece as Nik Popovich lifted a corner for Megic to volley into the path of an unmarked Domenici who turned home.
The goals continued to flow as Michael Rinaudo made it 5-5 before Megic stabbed home from close in to reestablish the Lightning lead, with White-Brettell preserving the lead with some sensational saves. An unfortunate knock to the head for the ‘keeper meant he was forced off the field for the goal which drew matters all-square again as Pratezina scored again.
Billington netted the opening goal in extra-time to restore the Stars lead and from there they were able to take full advantage of the Lightning’s charge for a leveller with Jayde James-Ward making it eight and Pratezina grabbing two more to net six, with William Manalo rounding it all off late on.
RESULT
UC Stars 11 (Pratezina 4’, 13’, 23’, 39’, 47’, 48’, Billington 7’, 44’, Rinaudo 29’, James-Ward 46’, Manalo 50’) West Canberra Lightning 6 (Basser-Silk 9’, 10’, Domenici 12’, 28’, Gaspari 18’, Megic 30’) – after extra-time
UC Stars: 12. Jamie-Lee GUO, 3. Phakedi MANDA, 5. Anthony GIORGI, 8. William MANALO, 10. Jayde JAMES-WARD, 11. Nick PRATEZINA, 15. Jake WILSENER, 17. Nick DAHL, 19. Harry BILLINGTON, 21. Luca MACOR, 23. Michael RINAUDO, 26. Nick RATHJEN
West Canberra Lightning: 1. Benjamin SOUTHAM, 30. Jackson WHITE-BRETTELL, 3. Daniel FULTON, 4. Michael SOUTHAM, 7. Grant DAVOREN, 8. Josh GASPARI, 9. Nik POPOVICH, 10. Ashley BLOUNT, 11. Stephen DOMENICI,14. Nicholas SUBASIC, 17. Ben BASSER-SILK, 18. Leon THOMSON-SENANAYAKE, 23. Nathen MEGIC
DISCIPLINE
Yellow Cards: 8. Josh GASPARI (West Canberra Lightning), 11. Stephen DOMENICI (West Canberra Lightning), 21. Luca MACOR (UC Stars), 23. Nathen MEGIC (West Canberra Lightning), C: Paco IGLESIAS (UC Stars)
Player of the Match: 11. Nick PRATEZINA (UC Stars)
