RICK DREWER

TANUNDA has booked its spot in this weekend’s second semi-final after thrashing reigning premier Nuriootpa by 94 points in the Barossa, Light & Gawler A-grade qualifying final on Saturday at Willaston Oval.
Despite the Tigers winning the toss and kicking with a strong breeze, the writing was on the wall at quarter-time as they failed to take advantage of the conditions to trail the Pies by one goal.
Ryan Foulis’ first-minute goal for Nuri was immediately nullified by Magpie ball-magnet coach Dean Terlich scoring a double inside the next five minutes, which was followed by another from Riley MacFarlane.
Billy Nicholls got a late one to keep Nuri in touch at the first change.
Going down-breeze, the Pies added 5.4 to the Tigers’ two behinds.
Led by Terlich, with great work from Lachlan Agars, Aron Fechner, Lachie Earl and Matt Prior, Tanunda opened up a 38-point lead at the long-break, producing a sense of ‘game over’ already.
The Pies’ workload, defensive pressure and intensity forced the Tigers to repeatedly turn the ball over and make basic skill errors resulting in a stagnant lack of movement, offering no alternatives when attempting to go forward.
To its credit, Nuri accepted the challenge to get itself back into the match and tied the third term, as both sides scored 4.1 each.
However, it was made to look better with two late goals from Tigers Foulis and Brad Bryksy.
During the term, Tanunda’s Ben Britton scored a hat-trick to give him four for the day, while Stuart Gregory potted the first of his four goals for the afternoon.
The late flurry to Nuri gave a false impression of the overall standing of the game, with Tanunda actually putting on an exhibition, making many of the Tigers look like training markers on a Thursday night.
Terlich was rapt with his charges at three-quarter time.
“The defence was fantastic, the pressure and tackling excellent, stoppages okay; hold your composure, stick the tackles and focus on each and every contest,” he told them.
The final quarter was embarrassing for the reigning premiers, outscored 9.4 to 0.2 as they simply didn’t give a yelp, let alone a roar.
The Pies were lining up to kick their nine goals, with the highlight being the 55-metre torp from Leigh Westhoff, for the last major of the match.
On the few occasions that Nuri did gain possession, it seemed to consistently turn it over, and the Pies ran out convincing winners.
The Tigers will now take on Barossa District on Sunday in the cut-throat second semi-final, while the Pies face Angaston on Saturday for a spot in the decider.