Tussle on for top spots
Keith Anderson
Some of Saturday’s results in all four district leagues could be telling in about two months’ time. Ellinbank in the Elliinbank and District league and Cora Lynn in West Gippsland lost their spots in the top “fives”, both on percentage, after their defeats. In Gippsland League Moe held on for a thrilling two-point win against Sale that was coming off a great win over previously undefeated Maffra the previous week. As a result Moe has moved into a position where in can mount a challenge for a top three finish. Traralgon put up a good fight at Leongatha before its threat was pushed aside in the final quarter, the loss giving it now only a onegame break over sixth placed Warragul. The Gulls strung together its second win in a row with a strong performance at home against Wonthaggi. In the other games Morwell had its best win for the year against Bairnsdale, 19-7 to 6-11, and Maffra downed Drouin by 65 points. While Ellinbank’s fall from being one of the early EDFL premiership favourites to being in real danger of missing the final “five” – it relinquished its spot to its conqueror on Saturday, Poowong – the atmosphere was totally different at Longwarry. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its last premiership, in the then West Gippsland league, Longwarry pounded Nilma-Darnum by kicking by far the league’s highest score in the wintry conditions. Coach Daniel Fry gave a masterful forward display in the wet bagging a dozen goals in the Crows’ 27-14 to 5-6 victory that retained their hold on second place. The top four EDFL sides all won at the weekend to consolidate their positions. Nyora kept its undefeated record intact by accounting for Neerim Neerim South, Warragul Industrials saw off Buln Buln in a low scoring match and Catani proved too good for Lang Lang. Ellinbank had a chance to hold fifth spot and gain a two-game break over Poowong when they clashed at Poowong, but it was the home side that came out on top by 20 points. The top four in Mid Gippsland have cleared out after a round in which all the favoured teams won. If there was something of a surprise it was the way fifth placed Mirboo North capitulated against Trafalgar. After a tight first quarter Mirboo North failed to add another goal losing to the top of the ladder Bloods 2-8 to 10-15 and now has only a two-point margin over sixth placed Morwell East. East was also on the losing end lowering its colours to Yinnar (3rd). Thorpdale (4th) trounced a struggling Boolarra 12-12 to 1-3 and Yallourn Yallourn North (2nd) got over Yarragon 9-7 to 4-5. In the other match Newborough beat Hill End by 31 points. West Gippsland’s Cora Lynn that had won a spot in the “five” after a couple of good wins lost it again when upset by Bunyip that had only one win for the year prior to Saturday. Bunyip got home 8-8 to 7-8 holding off a second half challenge from the Cobras that had trailed by as much as 21 points. A strong first half by Inverloch-Kongwak, after successive losses, enabled it to down Koo wee rup 12-9 to 10-8 in the match of the round and in a clash by two other of the top four teams Nar Nar Goon prevailed 9-17 to 5-3 against Garfield. Phillip Island’s percentage boosting 24-25 to 3-3 defeat of Dalyston helped it displace Cora Lynn from the “five” and in the other game Korumburra-Bena held sway over Kilcunda-Bass 11-13 to 6-4.