Tonny went into the contest well aware of the challenge it faced, opponents Nathalia having lost to only the unbeaten Rumbalara this season.
To add to complications, the finals draw happened to fall the Purples’ way, giving them home-court advantage at Nathalia Recreation Reserve.
Still, the Blues had slain giants before, having ended the near two-year unbeaten run of Deniliquin Rams on the way to the 2023 premiership, and just this year coming from fifth, taking down higher-ranked Moama and Mulwala to get to this position.
Tongala was well in the contest through the opening quarter, despite Nathalia taking a four-goal lead into the first break.
The Purples continued to grow the advantage in the second, but the Blues remained within striking distance, down 20-27.
Halftime clearly did wonders for Nathalia, and the Purples flexed their muscles after the break.
Tongala could find only four scores in the term, while the home side’s 14 saw it power ahead by 17 at the final break.
Although the result was academic from there, the Blues refused to give in and earned a morale boost by narrowly taking the final term.
The final score saw Nathalia advance 52-36, heading to a flag clash with unbeaten defending premier Rumbalara at Moama Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Tongala concludes an up-and-down season that was affected early by player availability.
Once near full strength, the Blues proved they remained one of the forces to be reckoned with in the Murray League but were ultimately ousted in the preliminary final for the second year in a row.
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