Traralgon grabs last finals spot
SENIORS THIRDS
In the end it wasn’t percentage that cost Warragul a place in the Gippsland League finals.
The Gulls finished in 6th position, one win behind Traralgon that clinched the last berth in the “final five” when it powered away from Morwell in the second half of their clash on Saturday.
Warragul needed to win its final home and away game – against Bairnsdale – and hope Traralgon lost to make the finals.
Neither of those things happened.
The Gulls went down by threepoints in a see-sawing contest.
Morwell fought hard early to try to deny arch-rival Traralgon a place in the finals and kept within 12 points after a tight struggle that saw only six goals kicked in the first half.
But the Maroons blew the game apart in the third term, eight unanswered goals for the quarter booking a place in next weekend’s elimination final against Moe.
Two of Saturday’s last round games involved finalists.
Maffra made sure of top place on the ladder and a break next weekend with an all the way win against Moe (4th).
The Lions weren’t out of their depth but were never able to claw back an important 18-point lead Maffra held at quarter time.
At the final siren it was 10-18 to 6-10.
The winner of Leongatha (2nd) versus Sale (3rd) at Leongatha would have grabbed the important top spot had Maffra stumbled.
Now they will square off again next Saturday in the qualifying final but this time on neutral territory and Morwell.
The Parrots took charge on Saturday with a six goals second term that set up their convincing 14-15 to 6-4 victory.
In the weekend’s other game Drouin continued its good finish to the season when it accounted for Wonthaggi 13-17 to 10-9 and rose another rung on the ladder, pushing Morwell down to 9th spot.