Red letter day in interleague
Keith Anderson
It was a “red letter” day for the three district leagues playing in this year’s round of the Victorian Community Championships on Saturday. At Ballarat where the Ellinbank and District and Horsham District leagues met at a neutral venue Ellinbank returned home with three championship cups winning all games – seniors, Under 18s and Under 16s. Gippsland League and West Gippsland hosting games at “home” grounds, Moe and Garfield respectively, were also winners. Gippsland downed Murray League in seniors and Under 18s and West Gippsland also won both seniors and Under 18s against Maryborough Castlemaine District. The results have seen Gippsland rise to 12th on the State community leagues’ table, West Gippsland to 24th and the EDFL to 26th. The results in the three senior matches were all clear cut. Gippsland prevailed by 87 points in its match, Ellinbank and district by 60 points and West Gippsland by 44 points. In the Under 18s Gippsland edged out Murray by six points, the EDFL got home by 15 points against Horsham while West Gippsland was always in charge in defeating Maryborough Castlemaine 16-11 to 4-5. The EDFL Under 16s kicked 12-3 to Horsham’s 6-4. It was business as usual in the Mid Gippsland football league which played round seven of its home and away season. And an interesting round it was, too. Trafalgar’s undefeated run came to an end at the hands of Yallourn Yallourn North, going down 13-7 to 6-11 after scores were level at half time. Yinnar joined Trafalgar and Yallourn Yallourn North in six wins from seven games. But Yinnar didn’t get it all its own way against Yarragon, winner of only one game. At the finish it was 8-10 to 6-11, Yinnar’s three-goal first quarter lead the key to it claiming the points. Fourth and fifth teams Thorpdale and Morwell East battled it out at Thorpdale, the home side on top 13-12 to 11-8 at the finish. The victory puts Thorpdale two games clear of sixth placed Mirboo North with Morwell East (fifth) sandwiched between them. Mirboo North proved far too good for Hill End and Newborough scored by 75 points over Boolarra.