A DOMINANT second quarter has helped Hummocks-Watchman punch its ticket for a spot in the Adelaide Plains A-grade football preliminary final after it defeated Mallala by 19 points in  Saturday’s first semi-final at Hamley Bridge.

The Eagles started the day in style, as star Nathan Studham converted the first major of the afternoon in the opening minute.

However, the Magpies showed their abilities early, with Brian Montgomery kicking the first two of his three goals within five minutes of each other.

Tait Nottle snuck one in for the Eagles, but Montgomery was having a day out and finished the opening stanza with his third major.

The Magpies led by a goal at quarter-time, and were looking good.

Sam Roads levelled the scores early in the second quarter, but the Pies steadied the ship again.

Dale King and tall timber Angus Bruggemann kicked a major each to give their side a two goal buffer.

Then, the floodgates opened for the Eagles.

Nathan Byrnes, Robert Bellamy, Roads, Jordan Bailey and Henry Wright blew the Magpies away with a barrage of goals. The Magpies’ 12-point lead had turned into a 22-point deficit in the blink of an eye.

Lachlan O’Leary then kicked one for Mallala on the siren to ensure it was just 16 points the difference at half-time.

Both sides exchanged blows after the main break.

Joel Montgomerie cut the margin to 10 points midway through the third, but Josh Appleby responded for the Eagles.

Josh Seal and O’Leary, with his second, then changed the game and the Pies were within one straight kick of the Eagles.

Fortunately for Hummocks-Watchman, its talisman, Studham, popped up with a goal just before three-quarter-time.

The Eagles led by just 11 points heading into the last.

The final quarter was a grind, with both sides restricting each other in front of goal.

Hummocks had kicked four behinds to the Pies’ two up until the final minute of the contest.

Nottle then slotted the sealer for Hummocks-Watchman, sending Mallala packing in the semi-finals for the second-consecutive year.

Lower grades In the reserves, Mallala advanced by beating Balaklava by 29 points.

Nathan Griffiths and Ian McMillan kicked two goals each for the victorious Pies.

In the under 17s, Balaklava overcame Mallala by eight points in a thriller.

The Peckers had led by 31 points at three-quarter-time, but the Pies kicked 4.3 to four behinds to almost snatch an unlikely win.

Tom Michael and Bailey Arthur kicked two goals each for the Peckers.

In the under 14s, it was a one-sided affair as Two Wells thumped Balaklava by 76 points.

Jack Hankins was best on ground with four majors for the Roosters.