Round 10 of the Mid Gippsland Football League was a dirty weekend for some while others revelled in cold and slippery conditions.
It was dirty for Trafalgar, which registered its lowest ever score against Yinnar and equal lowest all-time total with 1.2 (8), but it was absolutely filthy for Morwell East which remained goalless to register its worst total against Newborough with 0.8 (8).
The sun shone on Hill End though, as the bottom side broke a 10 match drought when it rolled over Yarragon by six points in a nail biting finish.
MIRBOO North defeated Yallourn-Yallourn North for the second time this season on Saturday, this time by 12 points.
The win gave Mirboo North second position on the ladder while YYN dropped back to third.
There was little between the two powerhouse teams as they struggled in the conditions.
Late rain on Friday night made it impossible to play attractive football and there were plenty of stoppages to make the umpires earn their pay.
It was tight with and scoring was difficult but the Tigers hung on to a seven point lead at the first break.
It was tough going in the second term with players going in hard; YYN was getting a slight advantage, forcing the ball forward, and two goals brought their score closer.
By half-time the Tigers were still leading but only by three points.
Both coaches were giving it their best shots but as conditions worsened play deteriorated as players slid on the greasy surface.
Marks were dropped and many kicks failed to make their targets.
Mirboo North shut down YYN in the third and did what no other team had this season by keeping the Bombers scoreless while adding 1.4 (10) to go to a three-quarter-time lead of 13 points.
Although not a high scoring match both full forwards earned praise; Zac Kilgower kicked three for Mirboo North while Dwayne Gunn held Dean MacDonald (YYN) to only two goals.
Two goals each were added in the last term as Mirboo North held out for its eighth win for the season 7.8 (50) to 6.2 (38).
Hill End broke through for its first victory for the season by dispatching Yarragon by six points in a cliff hanger.
The drought of 10 successive defeats was finally broken; incidentally it was history repeating itself as Yarragon was also beaten by the Hillmen last season to snap a 20 match losing streak.
It was bitterly cold at Hill End but the heat was on as Hill End strived for its first win.
Breaking away in the first term the Hillmen had plenty of the play and finally got their forward line working.
With four goals to one in the first quarter the host was looking the better of the two teams.
Yarragon pottered around without success in the second term as Hill End held the Panthers to twin behinds while scoring another three goals to go to a healthy half time advantage of 39 points, the side’s greatest lead on any club this season.
Yarragon approached the match differently in the third and started a mini-revival to reduce the margin down to 21 points.
In the final term Yarragon clawed back into the match; Damian Mann and Joel Kilday goaled to edge that bit closer.
Hill End had stopped to a walk and moved into panic mode.
With only one goal since half-time for Hill End to Yarragon’s seven it was looking like the Panthers could snatch victory in the dying moments. As the seconds ticked by Hill End hung on to win by six points.
The Hill End team song was sung loud and proud after the courageous win, 9.10 (64) to 8.10 (58).
Ben Rotheram (Hill End) and Damian Mann (Yarragon) each kicked three goals.
The much anticipated battle between top (Newborough) and fourth (Morwell East) turned into one way traffic as the Bulldogs reigned supreme.
The ladder leader kept Morwell East to its lowest ever score against the Dogs, 0.8 (8), which was eight points worse than its previous low of 2.4 (16) set in 2013.
It was the big man power of Newborough which allowed it to dominate the scoreboard.
Morwell East died across the half forward line as Newborough tightened up.
The East were below their potential as Newborough pot shotted at goal and wayward kicking robbed them of a decent first quarter score.
The cold conditions were taking a toll on the players with easy marks being dropped.
Newborough led at the first break 2.6 (18) to 0.3 (3) but more was in store for the hapless Hawks who were well and truly grounded.
The Bulldogs continued to find avenues to goal, putting on another 3.3 (21) to only two behinds, to go to a good lead at the long break 5.9 (39) to Morwell East’s 0.5 (5).
Mat Slattery and Chris Hancock were the bulldozers for Newborough and continually drove forward with Hancock picking up goals on the way. The East could not buy a major with many of their points being forced through or miskicked.
A 6.2 (38) third quarter by Newborough put the result beyond doubt.
It was still one way traffic in the last term although Newborough slowed down and became inaccurate, adding a further 2.6 (18) to the East’s solitary behind to finish 13.17 (95) to 0.8 (8) winners.
It was the East’s lowest score since their 0.4 (4) against Trafalgar in 1994.
Hancock finished with three goals and got amongst the awards as did Slattery and Damon Hansen.
For the East Norm Harrison, Shaun Barnes and Max Merton got the awards.
It was a black day for Trafalgar as the Bloods equalled their lowest ever score, 1.2 (8), which was set against Newborough in 2004.
Yinnar’s 83 point win pushed the Magpies back into the four, displacing Morwell East.
In terrible conditions Yinnar played fine football, keeping the ball off the ground and using it to perfection while it was dry.
The addition of a focal point up forward in Tim Aitken, in his first run since last year’s grand final, was a big difference.
He marked well and importantly kicked straight, something that his teammates at times did not.
Trafalgar was lost in a sea of black and white and could not get into the forward line for the first half with a nil scoreline by half-time.
Yinnar was in the match but six goals from 17 shots could have been messy against stronger opposition.
After half-time Trafalgar scored its only goal courtesy of Cohen Lee but Yinnar was quicker and kicked five goals straight to lead by more than 70 points at three-quarter-time.
Trafalgar was trying but was overwhelmed by a stronger Yinnar side.
The final score of 13.13 (91) to 1.2 (8) told the real story.
Aitken finished with six goals for Yinnar and was voted its best player.
With plenty at stake Thorpdale continued on its winning way with another win over Boolarra.
The first match between the two this year was a three pointer to Thorpdale but this time around the result was a much more convincing 44 point win to the Dales.
Thorpdale is now only 10 points shy of fifth-placed Morwell East. Boolarra threw away early chances but both teams had 11 shots by half-time with Thorpdale only five points the better.
Shannon Pickering was Thorpdale’s ticket to success up front and bagged five goals in a match winning effort.
Thorpdale scored its highest total for the season in its 15.7 (97) to 7.11 (53) triumph.
