MELTON Warriors needed only a half of their best rugby to power through Wyndham City and advance to the preliminary final with a 13-point win in Victorian rugby union at the weekend.

Having limped into the second division Bgrade finals with three consecutive losses, Melton flicked the switch at half-time and scored four unanswered tries in a 27-14 win.

Mark Thompson opened the scoring with a first-half try, only for Wyndham City to control the final 20minutes of the opening period and take a 14-7 lead to the break.

But second-half tries to Reuben Hoko, Chris Bevis, Joe Shepherd and Dennis Joubert created a points avalanche that delivered Melton a preliminary final against Eltham.

"The first half was a fairly lacklustre affair. We started well and went off the boil with a pretty lousy last 20 minutes," Melton assistant coach Charles Stenberg said.

"At half-time I was thinking it could be the end of our season. They had a fairly stern talking to at half-time.

"But they came out in the second half completely refocused and played probably our best half of football for the season."

Melton's final against Eltham will be played at neutral venue Harlequins in Ashwood.

Teo Pellizzeri