Hill End looking at finals
Some teams in each of the four district football leagues at the weekend strengthened their cases to play finals this year while results also kept alive hopes of others.
Although there weren’t too many real surprises there were still some eye-catching results.
The feel-good story was in Mid Gippsland league where Hill End’s big win against Morwell East has it well on course for its first finals appearance for a number of years.
The Hillmen’s 14-11 to 6-5 victory came from a nine-goals to one second half, lifting it to third on the ladder, equal with East on seven wins, and with a possibility of finishing in the top three with an important finals’ double chance if it can maintain its impressive form.
Defending premier Trafalgar has a real struggle ahead of it to make the “five”.
It has dropped two games out of fifth spot after an agonising two-point loss on Saturday to its rival for that position, Yinnar, after coming from 25 points down at quarter time. The other results were as expected. Mirboo North had to fight a bit harder than it probably expected to defeat Newborough and Boolarra came out a two-goal winner over Thorpdale.
The big winner in the West Gippsland competition was Bunyip.
It moved into the “five with a 10-7 win against Nar Nar Goon, finishing stronger in the second half.
Bunyip has moved into fifth place with Nar Nar Goon and Inverloch-Kongwak, that lost to Phillip Island by 13 points, now a game behind.
Garfield gave top five side TooradinDalmore plenty to think about when the Stars snatched a draw after trailing by 23 points at half time.
Warragul Industrials made it two wins in a row with a solid victory at Dalyston and the other two matches went in line with form, Cora Lynn winning by 12 goals against Korumburra-Bena and Koo wee rup big winners over Kilcunda-Bass.
There were no obvious upsets in Gippsland League where the top five before Saturday all won.
Leongatha won the battle against Bairnsdale for fifth spot while top of the table Sale, Maffra, Moe and Drouin also took the points in their games.
Other than Moe that won comfortably against a disappointing Warragul the other three had to earn the points.
Maffra and Sale trailed at half time and Drouin was only three points up at that stage before finishing the stronger to defeat Traralgon, Morwell and Wonthaggi respectively.
There were no surprises in Ellinbank and district although the top two teams had to work hard against opponents that are the main challengers to the “five”.
Ellinbank kicked 10 goals to five after half time to get over the top of Buln Buln by only 14 points and the improving Catani finished 25 points short of Longwarry. Margins were clear cut in the other matches. Nyora (4th) had an easy win against Lang Lang, Neerim Neerim South (5th) defeated Yarragon 15-11 to 7-7 and Poowong (3rd) was never threatened by Nilma-Darnum winning by 79 points.