Local leagues smacked in interleague games
Keith Anderson
Both Gippsland and West Gippsland football leagues had their tails smacked in their AFL Victoria community championship matches on Saturday. Gippsland never got into stride at any stage losing by 61 points to Yarra Ranges at Woori Yallock. West Gippsland was well within striking distance at half time against Riddell League in their clash at Macedon but was run over in the second half to go down 18-15 to 11-5. There was some joy for Gippsland League with its Under 18 side producing a strong second half to defeat Yarra Ranges 12-9 to 5-12 after scores were level at half time. But at Macedon and similar to what happened in the seniors West Gippsland Under 18s dropped off in the second half to lose 10-16 to 5-12. While the main focus of community football in the State at the weekend was on the championships round Ellinbank and District and Mid Gippsland leagues stuck to their local competitions. Neerim Neerim South and Ellinbank remain at the top of the table, maintaining their undefeated runs with wins over Lang Lang and Nyora respectively. At Nyora, Ellinbank got away to a flying start – eight goals in the first term – but lost some momentum in the second half after one of its players suffered a neck injury and play was held up while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Latest reports are that the player, Ash Wallace, had avoided serious injury and has been discharged from hospital. Despite the setback and a reduction in playing time the Eagles held things together well enough to run out strong 50-point winners. Neerim Neerim South had little trouble winning 21-21 to 4-4 over Lang Lang with Chris Urie and Tyssen Morrow again collecting healthy bags of goals. Warragul Industrials remain in third spot making it four wins from five after downing Longwarry at Western Park, the only home side to win on Saturday. Buln Buln came from behind kicking six of its 10 goals for the game in the final term to get over Nilma-Darnum 10-11 to 8-7 and take fifth place on the ladder while Catani kept fourth spot with a sound 16-15 to 6-11 victory at Poowong. In Mid Gippsland Thorpdale is in territory it hasn’t been for quite a few years – at the head of the ladder. It holds that spot on percentage after claiming the points against another previously undefeated team, Yinnar, 11-11 to 7-7. Newborough sits just behind Thorpdale after sneaking in by five points against Mirboo North that is striving to resurrect its slow start to the season. The Bulldogs won 8-13 to 8-8. Trafalgar remains in the top “five”, now joined by its conquerors on Saturday, Yallourn Yallourn North that proved much too good win winning 17-8 to 9-7. Hill End came home strongly after trailing by one point at half time to topple Boolarra 17-10 to 14-2 in an entertaining match and Morwell East kept in touch with the “five” with its 9-12 to 6-8 defeat of Yarragon.