Kate Withers
FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Moe have notched their biggest win of season 2018 and firmed as worthy finals contenders in the process with a mammoth 134-point demolition of Morwell in round 15, 30.14 (194) to 9.6 (60).
By half-time the Lions had earned a 10-goal lead and the game was won, but they didn’t take the foot off the pedal.
A seven-goal-to-one third quarter blew the margin out past 100 points and pushed the result into demoralising territory for the Tigers.
Twelve players hit the scoreboard for the Lions with Harrison Pepper’s five-goal haul the best of the day.
Sam Cougle, Dylan Farrell, Josh Galea all bagged four while Harrison Swim scored three and playing-coach James Blaser, Ryan Farmer and Darnell Grech all grabbed two.
At the other end, Charlie Rieniets started at full-back and commanded the Lions’ backline to effect with the help of Jai Massese and Lachlan Rees.
The win cements fourth spot for Moe on the Gippsland League senior ladder and helps keep Traralgon at arm’s length a game behind in fifth.
Warragul v Leongatha
Defending premiers Leongatha made the trip to Warragul look easy and returned with the premiership points on Saturday, 14.15 (99) to 5.10 (40).
A six-goal-to-none first term set the Parrots up well and a fiery start was just what coach Paul Carbis had in mind pre-game.
“We know Warragul have been playing some good footy and had a good win against Traralgon last weekend, so we had to really concentrate on ourselves and that’s what we did,” Carbis said.
“That was really important, especially away at Warragul where they’re dangerous.
“In our first quarter it was more about how we moved the ball and from the contest we were slick early on, and when they had it we put the pressure on.”
Carbis said the Gulls “came back at us” in the second and third terms and reverting to their own game helped the Parrots withstand the pressure.
“At three-quarter-time I said we had to concentrate on ourselves and we did that. We played some good footy and took control again,” he said.
Power forward Chris Dunne was back to his menacing best and bagged five goals for Leongatha and was helped out by Cade Maskell’s four majors.
“Chris Verboon and Colin Sanbrook down back were terrific,” Carbis said.
“Cameron Stone and Sam Forrester on the wing were pivotal for us. Ben Willis in the ruck was fantastic and Chris Dunne and Cade Maskell up forward really stepped up with our two big guys out.”
Parrots Julian Lockwood (shoulder) and James Lloyd (finger) were injured but will be in the mix for selection ahead of this weekend’s clash with Drouin.
Sale v Wonthaggi
A seven-goal bag from the boot of John Gooch has led Sale to their 12th win of the season at the expense of Wonthaggi in round 15, 18.14 (122) to 3.4 (22).
The Magpies all but had the game sewn up by quarter-time with a five-goal lead setting them up for a six-goal second term.
Coach Shane Fyfe said strong starts have been the focus for Sale all season and set them up in the majority of games this year.
“The starts have been a big emphasis, particularly on the first quarter and we got away to a really good start and our first half was some of the best footy we’ve played for the year,” he said.
“We don’t want to be playing catch-up footy so we just talk about getting in the right frame of mind each week.”
Stalwart Chris Laverty broke the Sale games record in game 287 on Saturday, which gave the Magpies some added pep on home turf “for about 10 minutes” according to Fyfe.
John Gooch’s seven goals, all after quarter-time, was a standout performance for Fyfe, along with Jarrod Freeman who kicked four goals and Kane Martin’s run through the midfield.
Drouin v Traralgon
Traralgon have bounced back and bolstered their chances of a top-five finish with a win over Drouin on Saturday, 14.15 (99) to 12.14 (86).
Jay Neagle and Chris Urie led the way up front for the Maroons and finished with three goals each while Kody Wilson, Lee Stockdale and Connor Ambler all kicked two.
Liam Axford, Jeb McLeod and David Olsen took care of the scoring for Drouin and finished with two goals apiece while singles went to six others.
Traralgon sit in fifth spot with just 17 percentage points separating them from Warragul in sixth with three games to go for the season.
Maffra v Bairnsdale
It was always going to be tough ask for Bairnsdale to travel to Maffra and the visitors were given a characteristically hostile reception by the Eagles.
The flag fancies barely broke a sweat and piled on 25 goals to march to a 111-point win, 25.18 (168) to 9.3 (57).
The Eagles held Bairnsdale to just two goals after half-time and added 14 of their own to close the match out.
Daniel Bedggood and Tom Jolly combined up forward to lead the way for the Eagles with five goals each while Andrew Petrou scored three and Danny Butcher, Josh Davis and Mitch Bennett two each.
Brayden McCarrey did the heavy lifting for Bairnsdale in front of goals and finished with three while singles went to six others.
The win is a handy percentage booster for the Eagles and gives them an edge on Leongatha – also on 13 wins – in second spot, with just three rounds to go in the season proper.
