Grand final loses mark painful end to season for Rockingham Rams

The Rockingham Rams came away from Peel Football League grand final day empty handed, with the reserves and colts sides suffering big losses in the end-of-season showpiece.

South Mandurah set up a 60-point win in the reserves by kicking the first four goals of the game to open up an imposing 33-point lead at the first break in a six goals-to-one first quarter.

David Foletta kicked two goals early in the second quarter for the Rams to cut the margin, but the Falcons hit back and extended their lead to 37 by half-time.

The Rams restricted the Falcons to a solitary goal in the third and two goals to Michael Coy reduced the deficit to 32 at the final change, but five unanswered Falcons goals in the fourth quarter completed the blowout win, 14.13 (97) to 5.7 (37).

In the earlier colts game, the Rams went down 8.8 (56) to Pinjarra 13.18 (96), despite leading at half-time. The sides went goal for goal in the first half, with Pinjarra holding a one-point lead at quarter-time and the Rams — with their noses in front — by the same margin at the main break.

But the wheels fell off for Rockingham in the third as Pinjarra kicked four unanswered goals to blow the game open.

Kyle Donaldson goaled for Rockingham to make it a 22-point game heading into the final quarter, but two quick goals to Pinjarra in the fourth effectively ended the contest.

Isaiah Gidgup kicked the final goal of the game to finish with five majors for the Rams, while Pinjarra’s Craig Wilward kicked four.

Pinjarra also took out the league premiership with a 43-point win over Centrals.

Former Essendon forward Leroy Jetta starred with five goals and 2013 Sandover medallist Rory O’Brien added three as the Tigers claimed back-to-back flags.