Having a week off to regroup and prepare for finals football has helped the Narrandera Imperial Eagles’ Football Netball Club Under 18 team book a place in this year’s Riverina Football League grand final.

The teenage Eagles were back in action last Saturday and secured a berth in the premiership decider following a three-goal victory against the Mangoplah Cookardinia United Eastlakes Goannas.

The Eagles 12.6 (78) defeated the Goannas 9.6 (60) in their Riverina Football League Qualifying Final on home turf at the Narrandera Sportsground.

Starting the scoring with a six-pointer, the Eagles went on to kick three goals and two behinds to take a 13-point lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Booting another three goals and two behinds in the following quarter extended the Eagles’ lead to 18 points at the main break.

After the restart, the Eagles had to survive a third-quarter comeback by the Goannas.

The Eagles were restricted to kicking just a single goal and one behind, while the Goannas booted five goals and two behinds.

At the end of the third quarter, the Eagles saw their three-goal halftime lead whittled away and turned into a seven-point deficit as they trailed with one quarter remaining.

However, the young Eagles hit back hard, kicking five goals and a single behind, while restricting the Goannas to kicking just a single goal to regain their 18-point lead as the final siren sounded, earning them the chance of some grand final glory.

The goal kickers for the Eagles included Jye Winnell (3), Riley Boag (2), Jett Milsom (2), Huxley Coelli (2) and one each for Jaxon Curry, Miles Rankin and Noah Tait.

Their best players were Riley Parslow-Gibson, Judd Powell, Jacob Hutchins, Riley Boag, Jett Milsom and Dan Mahy.

The Goannas’ goal kickers included Campbell Brown (3), Oliver Arentz (2), Logan Daniher (2) and one each for Thomas Hasler and Dannen Waugh-Smith.

Their best players were Dannen Waugh-Smith, Charlie O’Reilly, Charlie Buist, Skipper Pigram, Elijah Gannon-Pearson and Charlie Rodda.

The Eagles will know their grand final opponents on Sunday.

They will play the winner of the Preliminary Final game which will feature the Goannas against the Wagga Tigers.

The grand final is scheduled for 12 September at Narrandera Sportsground.