MOE GIVES ITSELF BREATHING SPACE
Moe strengthened its hold on fourth place on the Gippsland League ladder with a crucial win at Morwell on Saturday.
The Lions are now one-and-a-half games clear of Morwell, that is fifth, and two wins and a percentage break ahead of Bairnsdale, Wonthaggi Power and Warragul.
Moe’s three losses in the nine rounds to the halfway stage of the season have been against the top three – Traralgon, Leongatha and Maffra with the loss at Maffra an unlucky one when the Eagles booted the winning goal with only seconds remaining in the game.
A top three finish for them is not out of the question, sitting just four premiership points behind Leongatha and Maffra.
The Lions were blitzed in the first quarter, Morwell getting out to a commanding 6-4 to 1-1.
But Moe gradually reeled in the gap.
By half time it had cut it to 13 points and then got five points ahead by the time the siren sounded for three-quarter time.
The comeback didn’t sap all their energy and they finished the better to score 15-10 to 12-14. The round also produced some other significant results.
Leongatha’s hold on the top rung of the ladder was short-lived.
Its defeat at Maffra by 39 points enabled Traralgon, that downed Warragul, to take that spot.
Maffra again applied the brakes to Leongatha’s usual free-scoring, limiting it to 6-9 for the game while kicking three goals in each quarter to post 12-12.
Bairnsdale and Wonthaggi, both at home, won matches they were expected to win – and needed to if they are to contend for finals.
Bairnsdale gave its percentage an important boost when it beat Drouin by 111 points and Wonthaggi prevailed 13-10 to 7-8 against Sale that has had its early season struggles.
Each of the next nine rounds until the finals will have games that could make or break teams’ finals chances and the order of the “five”.
Next weekend has several “big” games.
One of them will be Warragul’s clash with Moe at Moe.
Bairnsdale and Wonthaggi, level with the Gulls on points, will be against Leongatha and Traralgon respectively..
Round 10 matches at grounds of first named clubs:SATURDAY: Wonthaggi Power v. Traralgon. Moe v. Warragul. Morwell v. Drouin. Bairnsdale v. Leongatha. SUNDAY: Sale v. Maffra.