Yarragon fourths into semi
YARRAGON answered a challenge from Neerim-Neerim South to advance to the under 16 second semi-final on Saturday, winning 7-11 (53) to 4-4 (28).
The Cats kicked the first goal of the contest and had come to play in front of their home crowd.
Yarragon would lift to kick the next three goals, scrambling a major from the pack to put through their first early in the second term.
They scored again as small forward Ji Doyle roved one of his four goals of the morning.
Cooper Spencer kicked his first to begin the third term but just as the Panthers had kicked clear, the Cats would come again with consecutive goals to bring the margin back to onepoint.
The likes of captain Isaac Guy and Kai Mounsey helped send their side forward, a long goal quickly followed by Guy converting from space to put the Cats well and truly back in the contest.
Patrick Sheehan, Keegan Friedlander, Kyson Cornwall and Braiden Curtis-Smith were also making handy contributions for the home side.
However the Panthers were able to lift again when required, kicking four of the final five goals of the contest to ice the game.
Forward pressure saw Doyle convert from a holding the ball free kick and he soon had his third from a snap as the Panthers re-established a buffer at the final change.
Neerim-Neerim South coach Connor Perry urged his players to switch on and work hard, but it would be Yarragon who would score the important first major through a soccer.
Liam-Smith Butterworth began to look dangerous forward of centre, but the Panthers couldn't convert from their opportunities.
Mounsey made a snap for the Cats which was left to roll through to pull one back with eight and a half minutes to play.
Darcy Paul had been a strong presence around the ground for the Panthers, and he would break through the 50-metre arc for a running goal to effectively finish it.
Other better players across the ground for Yarragon were Lachlan McWhinney, Andrew Daly, Ty Keeble and Josh Mills.
Doyle found space on the inside to convert his fourth for the icing on the cake for the Panthers.