Finals time
Trafalgar booked a place in the Mid Gippsland Football League grand final, Warragul missed out on the Gippsland League “five”, and the finals campaigns of Catani (Ellinbank and District) and Inverloch-Kongwak (West Gippsland) ended at the first hurdle as the stakes rose in district football leagues at the weekend. For Catani and Inverloch-Kongwak it was an early and unexpected end to their premiership defences. The MGFL second semi-final win by Trafalgar, that had lost only one match in the home and away rounds, was by no means easy. Yinnar held leads of 11, six and four points at the quarter breaks but was unable to stem a Trafalgar charge in the last term. The Bloods kicked 4-3 to 1-0 to get home 9-10 to 7-5. Yinnar will play Yallourn Yallourn North in next Saturday’s preliminary final after Yallourn North broke away in the last quarter to post an 8-16 to 6-4 win against Mirboo North in the first semi-final on Sunday. Yinnar inaccuracy near goal was a problem for it all game but in the final term had the majority control of the ball kicking 3-6 to 1-0 to keep its season alive. Longwarry won through to the EDFL second semi-final with an impressive qualifying final defeat of Warragul Industrials 17-8 to 10-10 with Daniel Fry (five goals) and Riley Rundell (four) doing the bulk of the scoring. Dusties will now play Poowong in the knock-out first semi-final while Longwarry and Nyora will go head to head in the second semi-final to determine which has direct entry to the grand final. Last year’s West Gippsland league grand finalists battled out the elimination final at Inverloch on Sunday, another grand final appearance now off the agenda for the Sea Eagles after it was beaten by Cora Lynn on Sunday. The margin was only seven points in a low scoring game, 6-9 to 4-14, Inverloch kicking its chances away in the second and third terms when it scored 1-10 as the Cobras, with fewer scoring chances, kicked five of their six goals for the match. In the qualifying final on Saturday Koo wee rup took charge after quarter time to win convincingly over Nar Nar Goon, 17-11 to 6-10. Nar Nar Goon’s double chance has earned it a reprieve with a first semi-final against Cora Lynn next Sunday. Koo wee rup has a second semi-final date with Phillip Island. In the final home and away round in Gippsland League fifth place was finally settled. Traralgon grabbed the spot after comfortably defeating Morwell to deny Warragul any chance of playing finals. The Gulls, set back by injuries to key players during Saturday’s game against Bairnsdale, put up a brave showing but fell three points short. Maffra, Leongatha, Sale, Moe and Traralgon will fight out the finals.