Final quarter onslaught claims the cup
Trafalgar lifted the Mid Gippsland premiership with a last quarter onslaught to overrun Yinnar at Morwell on Saturday. The first of the four district leagues grand finals will long be remembered by the big crowd that watched a see-sawing contest in fine mild weather. Trafalgar was a strong favourite after losing just one game for the season but there were plenty of concerned faces around the three-quarter time huddle with the Bloods 17 points in arrears. Just over 30 minutes later it was jubilation as Trafalgar doubled its score with 6-6 in the final term to 1-3 to win by 16 points. At the siren it was 12-12 to 9-14. The senior win capped off a great day for Trafalgar that won the three football grand finals it contested - seniors, thirds and fourths. It was the opposite for Yinnar that also played off in three games (seniors, reserves and fourths) and lost the lot. There was plenty of drama, also, in Trafalgar’s two junior wins. The thirds looked a one-horse race at three-quarter time. Trafalgar was well in control leading 6-12 to 1-7 against Newborough but was desperately hanging on by only three points when the siren sounded. There was only five points in the fourths match at three-quarter time before Trafalgar charged home for an 11-10 to 5-10 win over Yinnar. In the reserves Yallourn Yallourn North defeated Yinnar 9-8 to 5-7. The Ellinbank and District grand final next Saturday will be a replay of the second semi-final after Longwarry held off Warragul Industrials in the preliminary final at Longwarry. Longwarry will go into next Saturday’s premiership decider against Nyora with the chance to win its first premiership for 50 years (West Gippsland league 1968). The Crows looked well on the path to a win when they opened a 35-point lead over Dusties by the halfway mark but by the finish the margin had been pegged back to 20 points, 13-13 to 10-11. Koo wee rup booked a West Gippsland grand final appointment against Phillip Island after its 10-point preliminary final victory against Nar Nar Goon. In a match that was in the balance all afternoon Nar Nar Goon blew its chance with 1-6 in the last term. It got within seven points midway through the quarter but at the end it was the Demons home 10-9 to 7-17. Gippsland League’s semi-finals were also eye-catching. None more than top of the ladder Maffra’s second half capitulation to Leongatha in Saturday night’s second semi-final at Traralgon. After leading by nine points at half time the Eagles didn’t kick another goal as Leongatha rammed through 12 for a commanding 16-9 to 5-11 victory. The Parrots are straight through to their third successive grand final while Maffra now has a preliminary final clash ahead of it at Moe next Saturday against Traralgon that kept its season alive when it prevailed over Sale in Sunday’s first semi-final at Maffra.