All set for floorball final

By Gavin Staindl
THE Tropicals will meet the Nitros in the Pakenham Floorball League grand final next week after they scraped to a 6-5 semi-final victory over the Royals at Cardinia Life last Thursday night.
The Tropicals withstood a relentless attack in the final third as the underdogs tried to hold onto a three-goal lead.
Tropicals captain Jeremy Monckton (three goals, two assists) was again the star as he and forward Keiran Dryburg (three goals) combined for the total team score.
Monckton proved too quick for the older Royals team in the first period and a dagger was sent through the Royal heart when Monckton scored from the face-off to begin the second period.
Moments later Dryburg slipped in behind the back post and volleyed in a lofted pass to put his team up 4-1.
Facing a 4-3 deficit in the final period, the chance of a Royals comeback was hindered when experienced defender Andrew Watson was sent off for 10 minutes for rough conduct that left last year’s grand-finalists needing to score from a player down.
The Royals fought admirably but the run of the Tropicals now sees them face-off this Thursday night against the undefeated Nitros who easily accounted for last year’s premiers the Squishees.
The Nitros hit off the 10-3 win with a convincing start and headed to the first break four goals ahead.
James Parnell (four goals) and Brad King (three goals) put the match beyond doubt in the second term and only late goals by Squishees captain Ben Monckton (three goals) saved his team from their first goalless match in three years.