Inverloch win season opener
Inverloch-Kongwak have emerged as a potential West Gippsland Football Competition front runner following an impressive 15-11 (101) to 9-11 (65) win in the season opening match at Cora Lynn.
A big crowd gathered to watch the only match played for premiership points in country Victoria onSaturday night.
While the Cobras walked away with easy wins in the earlier grades due to a number of Inverloch-Kongwak players involved in cricket grand finals, the reigning Ellinbank District Football League premier found the 2016 Alberton FL grand finalist too strong in the main game.
The Cobras unfurled their premiership flag but the Sea Eagles showed they were out to spoil the party early as Toby Mahoney slammed through three goals in the opening term to see a 16point quarter-time lead to the visitor.
A nasty injury to Nicholas Helsby interupted play for eight minutes during the second term.
In a freak accident, Helsby fell awkwardly after contesting the ball and was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured skull and burst eardrum.
The Cobras, who were denied entry to their rooms at half time as a result, rallied and pulled the margin back to just three points at the final change of ends.
William Thomas goaled early in the third term before Nathan Langley kicked the first two of his three majors for the night to put the Cobras in front.
However the frenetic nature of the contest began to take its toll on the Cobras, who would finish the match with just one fit player on the bench and others severely cramping.
Goals to veteran Adam Cross and Daniel Houston enabled thre Sea Eagles to steady and take a narrow threepoint lead into the final term.
With the Cobras tiring Oscar Toussaint got the Sea Eagles’ surge going with a long goal.
Shem Hawking made no mistake from a snap after winning a free kick for high contact before Mahoney took a good mark running with the flight of the ball towards goal to slam through his fifth.
Andy Soumilas, who had troubled the Cobras all night, was gifted a certain goal from a 50-metre penalty before a good handpass through traffic set up another goal to extend the lead to 26 points.
While Ryan Gillis had been well-held all night, a free kick in front of goal allowed him to keep the Cobras in touch.
The visitor then ran into an open goal to seal the match.
Inverloch-Kongwak continued to run hard to the end, with a long goal to Hawking capping the final term dominance.