Berrigan had beaten Deni by just one point during the home and away season, after kicking the first five goals and posting what was, in the end, an uncatchable lead.
Berrigan won the toss on Sunday and elected to go with the wind.
The Rovers knew they could not afford to let them get away early again.
The first five minutes was hard fought and scrappy, with true finals pressure being applied by both sides.
Deni’s Matt Horne kicked the first goal of the game, but Berrigan went on to kick the next four goals.
The Saints went into the first break with a three-goal lead.
The second quarter was as scrappy as the first.
Although Deni were able to keep Berrigan scoreless, they were only able to kick one goal for the quarter.
The Rovers knew that the third stanza would make or break them.
Jamie Thorpe and Ben McCalman battled tirelessly in the midfield, and the backline once again stood up to relentless pressure.
Berrigan kicked two for the quarter and Deni just one, Berrigan going into the final quarter with a three-goal lead.
Although the pressure remained, Deni seemed to open the game up a little bit in the last and had the majority of the play.
Berrigan were very good in forcing Deni into the dead pocket, which would have contributed to the Rovers kicking 2.5 in the last and unable to catch Berrigan.
Ben McCalman, Jamie Thorpe and Jack Bartlett stood out as the best for Deniliquin Rovers, aided by James Kirby.
Goals: Matt Horne 2; Josh Bode, James Kirby and Brock Thomson kicking 1.
Final score: Deni Rovers 5.7 (37) def by Berrigan 7.3 (45).
The Deni Rovers thirds were also eliminated from the finals race on Sunday. A report will be in Friday’s edition.
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