Final spot still open

SENIORS THIRDS

Neither Warragul nor Traralgon seeking upset wins that may have secured 5th place on the Gippsland League ladder were able to do so.

That last place in the “five” won’t be sorted out until after next Saturday’s final home and away round but the odds are well in Traralgon’s favour.

Warragul was brave but unable to get over 3rd placed Sale at Sale on Saturday, losing by 10 points.

Sale will finish in the top three and have a double chance in the finals with Saturday’s win also a fitting acknowledgement of coach Shane Fyfe’s 250th senior game with the Magpies.

Traralgon travelled to Maffra to take on the Eagles determined to bounce back from their surprise defeat by Warragul the previous week.

However, Maffra held on edge from the start to extend their lead to 31 points at three-quarter time before blowing the Maroons away with an eight goals last term to win 16-15 to 5-3.

Mitch Bennett finished with seven goals to spearhead Maffra’s scoring but it was the Eagles’ defence that was a stumbling block for Traralgon all game.

Moe that went into its game at Wonthaggi level on premiership points with Warragul and Traralgon, but with the better percentage of the three, needed to win to assure a qualifying final spot. It did, but it was a battle. Woeful inaccuracy and a Wonthaggi surge with the wind in the second quarter almost brought the Lions unstuck.

Their wayward goalkicking was there from the start kicking 2-8 to Power’s one goal in the first term and by the halfway point Wonthaggi had grabbed the initiative to lead 7-6 to 3-11.

Moe drew deep but remained off target in the second half, adding 6-15, to win at the end 9-26 to 9-7, Patrick Ryan one that could find the goals kicking five for the day to steady the ship.

Drouin followed up its shock defeat of Leongatha in the previous round with a solid win at Morwell.

The Hawks took charge after quarter time to score 14-13 to 7-6, the victory ensuring they don’t get the wooden spoon – that’s now Wonthaggi’s – and can even move up another rung on the ladder if they win next week.

Leongatha bounced back in fearsome form at Bairnsdale to hand the Redlegs a 129point thrashing, captain Cade Maskell booting nine goals.

Milestone games have cropped up several times among Drouin players in the past few weeks, the latest coming at Morwell on Saturday when backman David Miller (pictured above turning an opposition attack) played his 100th senior game for the Hawks. Miller had another solid game in what has been one of his best seasons in the maroon and gold.