Footy finals arrive with wintry blast
The business end of the season has arrived for West Gippsland and Ellinbank and District leagues that next weekend will join Mid-Gippsland that has already started its finals. Gippsland League has another home-andaway round before it’s into the play-offs. On Saturday Garfield lost its “mini-final” against Cora Lynn for the last spot in the West Gippsland finals. Inverloch-Kongwak that occupied top position on the West Gippsland ladder for most of the season lost it to Phillip Island, that won their clash at Cowes 10-12 to 3-18. The Sea Eagles tumbled from first to fourth. That means their season could be over if they lose the elimination final next Sunday to Cora Lynn, a clash between the sides that played off for last year’s premiership. It was a jam at the top of the WG ladder, the first four sides – Phillip Island, Nar Nar Goon, Koo wee rup and Inverloch-Kongwak all with 14 wins and separated by percentage. In a do-or-die situation Garfield made a minor comeback in the third term against Cora Lynn but never looked likely winners, eventually losing 13-7 to 7-5. Nar Nar Goon and Koo wee rup warmed up for their finals campaigns with big wins over Dalyston and Kilcunda-Bass respectively while Korumburra-Bena ended its season on a winning note scoring 9-5 to Bunyip’s 5-14. Thorpdale was the first casualty of the Mid Gippsland play-offs losing the elimination final played in tough, wintry conditions at Boolarra on Sunday. Mirboo North, big improvers in the second half of the season, was far too good. Final scores were 12-10 to 5-9. Yallourn Yallourn North will draw on the double-chance it earned by finishing second on the ladder after its qualifying loss on Saturday to Yinnar. It was a close game all the way. Scores were rarely more than a goal apart and level at three-quarter time. Yinnar found a little more up its sleeve to pull away for a 10-8 to 9-3 win and a date with Trafalgar in next Saturday’s second semi-final. Ellinbank and District’s finalists and the finishing order were settled before Saturday’s last round. But there were a couple of big results. Not the least was Poowong (5th) inflicting top side Nyora’s second loss for the season and doing it well - 10-8 to 7-6. Ellinbank’s disappointing year finished on a good note, a hard-fought two-point victory over Longwarry (2nd). Ellinbank looked to have taken control of the game when it led by 20 points at three-quarter time but was holding on grimly at the finish as the Crows got to within two points. The other games went much as expected. Buln Buln prevailed over Lang Lang, Warragul Industrials (3rd) did enough to see off Nilma-Darnum and Catani (4th) was too good for Neerim Neerim South. In Gippsland League fifth place is still undecided after Warragul and Traralgon both lost, the Gulls by just 10 points against Sale (3rd) and Traralgon to Maffra (1st). To sneak into the “five” Warragul needs to win against Bairnsdale next Saturday and for Traralgon to fall to Morwell. Maffra held sway all game and stormed away in the final term to win well against Traralgon, Leongatha steam-rolled Bairnsdale, Drouin made it two in a row when it put paid to Morwell and despite its terrible conversion in front of goal Moe locked in its place in the finals with a win at Wonthaggi.