RESULTS TIGHTEN BATTLES

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The last of the finals’ spots in each of the four district leagues may go down to the wire, the final home and away rounds, after results on Saturday. Ellinbank and district league’s Poowong and Ellinbank, locked in a tight struggle for 5th place, were both winners at the weekend with Ellinbank leap-frogging Poowong to claim what could be a temporary hold on the position – by a fraction of one percent. Ellinbank, with some key players returning in the past few weeks, shook off Buln Buln in the second half to run out comfortable 72-point winners. Poowong won by 55 points over Lang Lang. In the last three rounds Poowong looks to have the “easier” run with only Nyora in the final game a top five opponent while Ellinbank faces three above it on the ladder – Catani, Nyora and Longwarry. In the clash between the top two, Nyora and Longwarry, on Saturday Nyora grabbed a stranglehold on the important top position. Its 3-8 to nil in the third term steered Nyora to its 9-15 to 7-6 win. Warragul Industrials and Catani, in a tight battle for third and a double chance in finals, both had solid wins, Dusties over Neerim Neerim South and Catani against Nilma-Darnum. In Mid Gippsland league successive losses to lower sides has put a question mark on Thorpdale’s place in the “five”. Saturday’s loss to Morwell East (6th) has it holding onto 5th by just one game, but also with what may prove a handy percentage break. And Morwell East has the barn-storming ladder leader Trafalgar ahead of it in the final home and away round on Saturday week. Trafalgar dominated the second and third quarters to topple Yallourn Yallourn North that still looks near certain of a top three finish. Second placed Yinnar brushed aside Yarragon, Mirboo North was an easy winner against Hill End and in a match with no bearing on the “five” Newborough scored a resounding victory over Boolarra. Warragul forfeited its place in the Gippsland League “five” after its loss to Leongatha and Traralgon’s defeat of Drouin. Traralgon had a fight on its hands before claiming a 13-point victory at Drouin. Leongatha was a big hurdle for Warragul to overcome and six goals to nil in the first quarter set the Parrots on their way to an eventual 59-point win. The league’s other games went according to script. The margins were 100 points or more with Moe trouncing Morwell, Maffra untroubled by Bairnsdale and Sale a big winner over Wonthaggi. West Gippsland’s 5th place could come down to the last round in three weeks when Cora Lynn and Garfield, vying for that spot, clash. Garfield fell a game behind Cora Lynn after Saturday’s 70-point loss to Koo wee rup and it also has a much poorer percentage than the Cobras that accounted for Kilcunda-Bass. Phillip Island grabbed third place on percentage from Nar Nar Goon when the two teams did battle at Cowes in what was a terrific spectacle with the sides booting 41 goals between them, the Island getting the points 22-10 to 19-7. Top side Inverloch-Kongwak had too many guns for Bunyip and Korumburra-Bena chalked up another win at Dalyston’s expense.