SALE ON RISE

Sale stamped itself as a team on the rise on Saturday night when it scored a fighting 22point win over Traralgon.

After losing the opening round to Maffra, that remains Gippsland League’s only undefeated side, in round one it won well against a more than handy Moe the following week before upsetting the Maroons under lights at Traralgon.

Down by nine points at half time Sale dominated the second half kicking eight goals to three to win 13-14 to 9-16.

Traralgon would not have been short of confidence going into the match a week after a good victory over title holders Leongatha and with four of its top players – coach Mark Collison, Jackson Hall, Connor ambler and Tim Northe – returning to the side.

The Magpies got a good start kicking the first two goals in a tight and tense opening 15 minutes before Traralgon got six of the next eight.

It was a different story in the second half as Sale led by ruckman Jack Lipman, newcomer this year Mitchell Dowse and onballer Kane Martin, took control.

In attack Brad Dessent with four goals and Jarrod Freeman three put the scores on the board to capitalise on the good work around the ground.

Former Neerim South player Chris Urie, in his first outing for Traralgon, was named in its best players and was it main goal scorer with three.

The victory could well have set up Sale’s season.

It plays Morwell, Drouin and Wonthaggi, none of which have posted a win, in the next three rounds.

It was a long trip for Wonthaggi to Maffra and even longer going home.

Power was licking its wounds after being thumped 24-27 to 5-5 by the early premiership favourites.

Dan Butcher, Jack Johnstone and Lachlan Channing were among the Eagles that never released the pressure valve to help set up the win while forwards Mitch Bennett (five goals), Andrew Petrou (four) and Dan Bedggood (three) iced the cake.

Leongatha bounced back decisively after falling to Traralgon.

On the receiving end was Morwell that was overrun 19-12 to 4-7, the Tigers scoring all of their four goals in the second half including three in the last quarter.

Leongatha sharp shooter Chris Dunne kicked six.

At Western Park at Warragul it was an important game for both the Gulls and Moe.

Warragul was more than a match early but fell away in the second half to go down 15-10 to 5-12.

The Lions’ defence was superb – Charlie Rieniets, Michael Stanlake and Tyson Biffin outstanding – but was helped by some wayward Warragul disposal.

Drouin had similar disposal problems at Bairnsdale.

It cost them heavily in the match the Redlegs won 23-17 to 10-8 to post their second win in a row.