Cobras back in the hunt

Having entered round nine of the West Gippsland Football Competition eight points outside the top five, Cora Lynn still entered their match against Garfield with high hopes of playing finals.

Cora Lynn coach David Main set his charges for a big result over their young rivals last week as the Cobras looked to make a statement to turn their season around. They were able to follow up a solid week on the training track and do just that, recording an emphatic victory 18-14 (122) to 8-6 (54).

With both sides boasting young teams, Cora Lynn’s average age of its senior side being just 21 on Saturday, the match had promised to be an epic between two sides hungry to play finals.

Following a competitive first quarter where scoring was at a premium, the Cobras were ruthless as they kicked away.

Not even a big half time spray from coach Hayden Stanton could lift the Stars as the Cobras for the most part did as they pleased in the second half, with Jackson Dalton lighting it up with six goals to win best on ground honours.

With premiership coach Travis Marsham and premiership stars Brad Hora, Ryan Gillis and Nathan Langley in attendance for a belated presentation of 2016 Ellinbank District Football League premiership mounted footballs, the young Cobras team were inspired to put on an emphatic performance to well and truly put them back into finals calculations at the half way point.

In another gift, an umpire officiating on the day finally came good with his promise to buy Gillis a beer after accidently blocking him in that same match.

It was worth the wait for the Cobras as they turn for home four points behind the fifthplaced Stars,the emphatic nature of the victory ensured the Cobras would finish the match with a superior percentage.

Scoring was at a premium early in the match. Kevin Vandenberghe tried to make the early running but couldn’t break through and was caught.

The arm wrestle continued as both sides traded minor scores. It took some smart positioning from diminutive Cobras forward Lochie Peluso to snap front and centre of the pack to put the first goal on the Ryan Gillis scoreboard.

A kick across the face in defence proved costly for the Stars, as Brendan Pullen ran into an open goal for the Cobras.

The Stars worked the ball forward to kick their first, but the response was swift from the Cobras, who went forward and spotted Jaxon Briggs on the inside for a goal.

A desperate spoil from a Garfield defender early in the second term would be a rare highlight for the Stars, as the Cobras put on a burst of six goals to break the game open.

Cobras forward Travis Woodfield proved too explosive on his leads for the Garfield defence to handle, and he made no mistake to convert from a free kick.

Daniel Johnson, who would finish the match with three majors, snapped truly for Garfield but the joy would be shortlived as the Cobras slammed on four goals in quick time.

Briggs again showcased his speed to break away into the open goal, while Dalton roved front and centre with a snap to finish a dominant period for the Cobras.

Briggs continued to impact, this time with a strong mark running back with the flight to set up Woodfield to roll through Cora Lynn’s ninth.

Michael Wallace brought some relief for the Stars, converting on the siren after he had won a free kick for a hold.

It did little to please Stars coach Stanton, who delivered a mighty spray to his side at half time. And it did little to change the result as the Cobras slammed through six goals in the third term while keeping the hapless Stars scoreless.

Dalton snapped in front of the pack and quickly had another on the board, marking and turning immediately to convert with little time wasted.

The Cobras were good at looking for the better option and on this occasion, centred to Luke Hartley for another goal.

It was fast becoming a training run for the Cobras, Dalton marking at the front of the pack with ease for another major. He was soon at it again, marking at the back of the pack s the Cobras turned for home with a commanding 79-point lead.

The Stars entered the final term playing for pride and committed themselves to winning the final term. They were able to achieve their aim winning the term with five goals to three, but it was junk time with the result too far gone.