SEVENTH-placed Woodside caused one of the upsets of the season to come from behind in a spirited final quarter to overwhelm the Blues and keep its finals aspirations alive in North Gippsland football.
Trailing at each change of ends in a match that ebbed and flowed viciously, the Wildcats carried their momentum from the third term into the dying stages of the game to overrun Rosedale by four points.
It was the second time this season the Wildcats found themselves out of the contest against the Blues only to rally in the final term to register an unlikely victory.
Led by Justin Staley (five goals) and Rob Michaelides (four) in front of the sticks, the home side booted five goals to one to hand fourth-placed Rosedale its second defeat in as many weeks.
Leading by 20 points at the start of the final term the Blues were favoured to return to the winners’ list but were left wanting as the Wildcats, led by Michaelides, Hank Norman, coach Chris Pettitt and Josh Griffin, led the comeback.
The victory saw the Wildcats draw level on 32 points with sixth-placed Churchill, leaving them just two points outside the five.
Bois/Briag v Gormandale
LEADING by 15 points at the final change, Boisdale/Briagolong was left to ponder what if as Gormandale ran over the top of the Bombers in a one-sided final term.
Playing an impressive brand of football, the Bombers booted five goals in the opening term to establish a two-goal lead.
From there the Bombers backed themselves in the contest to extend the margin at the main change.
The premiership term was an even affair as the sides traded blows on the scoreboard with eight majors booted as the Tigers kept within two kicks at the final change.
The Tigers pounced early in the last to reel the margin back to within a kick, before levelling scores.
Despite fighting courageously, the Bombers’ inability to register a major in the final term proved costly.
Heyfield v Cowwarr
A BARNSTORMING 11-goal final quarter blew the margin out in the contest between Heyfield and close rival Cowwarr 20.16 (136) to 11.8 (74).
After trailing by three goals at quarter-time the Saints reeled the margin back to single figures at the midway mark.
Aiming to strengthen its hold on a finals berth, Cowwarr kept with the competition’s number one ranked side to trail by 12 points at the final change of end.
That was as close as they would come to the reigning champions for the remainder of the contest as Jesse Bedggood and Brett Szabo made the forward line their own.
The duo directed traffic enabling the midfield to draw forward and score while adding a combined eight goals.
Glengarry v Churchill
SUCH is the closeness of the competition, Glengarry advanced three positions on the ladder after claiming the points in comprehensive fashion over fellow final aspirants Churchill.
Leading at every change the Magpies were at their damaging best, with the side’s 13-goal-to-five second half, one of the best displays of football this season.
TTU v Sale City
Traralgon Tyers United laid the foundation for its 16.7 (103) to 7.12 (54) win over Sale City with a nine-goal-to-one opening half.
Aiming to confirm their hold on a top three finish, the visitor exploded out of the blocks booting five majors to one ahead of quarter-time.
The Bombers did not stop coming; TTU added a further four goals in a stellar second quarter which saw the home side fail to convert.
Leading by eight goals at half-time, the Bombers appeared poised to run away with the contest, however the Dogs rallied with a more commanding second half which saw the two sides go goal for goal.
Sale City converted six goals to the visitor’s seven, as they made the Bombers work hard for the points in a more competitive half of football.
