Two-time reigning premier Morwell has kept its 2015 finals hopes alive with a 12-point win over Drouin.
It was the biggest margin during what was a tightly contested start to the split round 15 of the Gippsland League.
The Tigers got off to the better start, and led the Hawks by two goals at the first change.
By half time, the margin was out to 18-points after a more tightly contested second term.
The visitor outscored its opponent in the third, and despite being kept goalless in the last, was able to hold on for a much-needed victory.
Locked on 28-points apiece, Morwell, Sale and Drouin are battling for the fifth and final spot in the finals race.
Sale d Bairnsdale
Also fighting for fifth spot, Sale too kept its finals chances alive with a hard fought win over Bairnsdale.
“The win means our season is still alive and it should be a roller coaster ride home. It is indicative of how tight the competition is that three sides are fighting it out for fifth,” said Sale coach Travis Ronaldson who gives his side every chance of a finals berth.
“We back ourselves in against sides in the top five. Results over the course of the year show that if you bring you’re a game anything can happen,” he said.
However the home team had to work hard for the four points against Bairnsdale under lights on Saturday night.
“The game was an arm wrestle all night. Bairnsdale took it right to us and it took us until late in the last quarter to get an advantage and hold onto it,” said Ronaldson.
The nine-point win comes after what’s been a tough month for the Magpies.
“We have had a tough five weeks, playing all of the top four times in that period, so it was important for us to get a win and start building some momentum again,” he said.
Just one point separated the sides at quarter time, while there was just five points in it at the main change; Sale again with the upper hand.
Trailing the Magpies by just three points at three quarter time, the visitor was still well and truly in the contest at the final break.
However the home team kicked three goals to two in the last to claim a narrow but much needed victory.
“I was really proud of the efforts of the group, we had a couple of injuries during the game and had a number of under 18s playing. To see the group compete and work like they did, especially late in the game, was outstanding,” said Ronaldson.
Traralgon d Wonthaggi
Traralgon all but cemented third spot with a win over Wonthaggi, in the battle between third and fourth.
“It was good. The boys played pretty good footy, it was pleasing to get a big scalp in Wonthaggi and the win pretty much gives us clearance for third spot,” said Maroons coach Mark Collison.
Traralgon led the Power by six points after a low scoring opening term.
The home team kicked two unanswered goals in the second, all the while holding the visiting Power goalless.
Wonthaggi’s first two majors came in the third quarter, which saw the Maroons add three goals of their own; the margin 20-points at three quarter time.
The Power gave it everything in a dominant final term, however Traralgon was able to fight off the visitor in the dying minutes and hold on to win by 8-points.
“A couple of crucial mistakes cost us, we let them back into the game and it was pretty intense in the last few minutes,” Collison said.
In just his second senior game back from injury, Hayden Britton was again the stand out with the boot, kicking three for the Maroons.
“He’s a gun. He had a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last year and struggled early. Played his first game last week and kicked four and then kicked three again on the weekend, he’s a pretty good talent for us,” said Collison.
The Gippsland League’s top two Maffra and Leongatha both recorded convincing victories in the second half of the Gippsland League’s split round 15.
“For me they are the two stand out sides,” said Moe coach Adrian Burgiel whose side lined up against the Eagles on Saturday.
Fresh from its 13th win for the season, Maffra sits comfortably in top spot, with just three rounds of the home and away season left to play.
Maffra is a game clear of Leongatha, while Traralgon is another game behind in third. Wonthaggi sits a further two games behind in fourth, while at 28 points apiece, Sale, Morwell and Drouin are in a three-way race for the fifth and final spot in the finals.
Trailing Maffra by 88-points at three quarter time, Moe recovered from a disappointing opening three quarters, to kick seven goals to two in a dominant final term.
“Our last quarter was really encouraging. We kicked seven to two, which was really good. We were poor early, our first three quarters were really poor, we missed targets and our skill errors cost us … but the final term was a good confidence builder; showed us that we can score against the good teams,” said Moe coach Adrian Burgiel.
The Lions were without three of their best due to injury, including the coach who ruptured his ACL against Morwell.
“We have got a few injuries at the moment; Mitch Stanlake and Luke Webber were out,” Burgiel said.
However Moe is looking to finish the season on a high, despite a tough run home.
“We are going to try to finish strong. We have Leongatha, Sale and then Bairnsdale at home to finish off,” Burgiel said.
Despite the late comeback from Moe, Maffra won its clash by 59-points.
Gary Jones and Darren Sheen were the stars with the boot with four apiece, while Jake Roe-Duggan booted three. Eagle Kelvin Porter took the honors for best on ground.
Leongatha d Warragul
In the second game of the the final weekend of round 15, Leongatha stamped its authority with a big win over bottom of the table Warragul.
Jake Best starred for the Parrots with 10 goals, while Cade Maskell managed four.
The home team dominated from the outset and held the visitor scoreless until the second term.
Leongatha slammed on seven goals to one in the second to lead by 64-points at half time.
By three quarter time, the Parrots’ lead was out to 95 points and the damage didn’t stop there, with the home team adding another seven majors in the last to run out a 137-point winner.
The match wrapped up the split round 15, which last weekend saw wins to Traralgon over Wonthaggi, Morwell over Drouin and Sale over Bairnsdale.
Last Modified on 11/08/2015 14:47