YARRAGON retained the Waterloo Trophy over Trafalgar in a high scoring shootout with an aggregate score of 184 points in round 15 of the Mid Gippsland Football League.
It was a highly entertaining match with the lead changing at each of the three breaks.
Yarragon held sway at first with a three-point lead then Trafalgar came back to regain a nine-point buffer at half-time.
The Bloods were playing at their peak and it took a supreme effort by Yarragon in the third, kicking with the wind, that made the difference.
The Panthers were able to boot 8.5 (53) in arguably their best quarter of football all season.
Yarragon not only attacked but defended well, keeping the Bloods to one point for the term to set up the victory.
Trafalgar is renowned for coming back and made a go of it with use of the wind in the last quarter.
The red and whites could have fell short by 12 points in a dramatic quarter; Trafalgar added 6.3 (39) to Yarragon’s 1.4 (10).
Pressure was on Yarragon as Trafalgar fought hard to gain ground but in the end the Panthers stood tall and won their fifth match for the season to retain the Waterloo Trophy.
Ben Damschke, back after a spell, was the main Trafalgar destroyer with his strong play through the centre.
Damian Mann booted six against his former club, equalling Brendan Kingwill (1991) and John Alsopp (1996) as the top goal kickers against Trafalgar, and Tim Milner played a good defender’s role.
Trafalgar had plenty of targets up forward with eight players sharing their tally but in the end it was Yarragon 14.14 (98) to Trafalgar 13.8 (86).
It was Trafalgar’s highest score for the season.
Yinnar v Morwell East
YINNAR overcame an early deficit to defeat Morwell East at Yinnar Recreation Reserve.
Morwell East was elated with its one-point lead at quarter-time against the team it beat by the same margin in the previous meeting, but elation turned sour when Yinnar started the second with a goal within 30 seconds.
The Magpies hit the front and there they stayed for the rest of the match.
Morwell East struggled on the forward line and could not conjure a multiple goal scorer.
On the contrary Yinnar’s Damian Yates, substituting for Tim Aitken up forward, was able to score five goals.
Morwell East missed opportunities in front of goal and will need to practise ahead of another likely meeting with Yinnar in the elimination final around mid August.
With both teams suffering from several injuries it’s going to be survival of the fittest come finals time.
Yinnar won 13.16 (94) to Morwell East 8.14 (62).
Boolarra v YYN
IT took Boolarra 33 minutes to score its first goal against YYN, which ended 143 minutes of major-less football for the Dees, who kicked just two behinds last round.
Yallourn-Yallourn North on the other hand was able to build up a sizable lead but a 4.6 (30) first term wasted a huge opportunity to build up a big score.
Dean MacDonald was doing well up forward for YYN and his return of five goals could have been more, but his unselfish play ensured his teammates had ample opportunity to get on the scoresheet.
The good news for the Bombers was their three best were players who have worked their way through the ranks in Dylan Bath, Darcy Price and Tyler Brown.
Boolarra’s only bright light was Matt Coutts up forward with four goals from limited opportunities.
YYN ran out winners 16.15 (111) to 5.2 (32).
Hill End v Newborough
NEWBOROUGH retained the Byrne/Fanning trophy and showed Hill End how to play football.
The league leaders showed no mercy on the minnows and crushed them by 164 points.
It was the Doggies’ biggest score of the season, 30.12 (192), and highest ever total against Hill End, beating the previous record of 27.17 (179) in 1988.
They started off with 6.4 (40) to nil lead and kept punishing the Mountainmen, adding a further seven in the second, eight in the third and then nine in the fourth to break the record.
Luke Mulqueen and Thomas Wilson kicked four each and led the brigade of 14 goalkickers, who together scored 30.12 (192) to 5.2 (32).
Ben Rotherham kicked three for Hill End.
Mirboo North v Thorpdale
THORPDALE blew any chance it had of getting into the finals.
A win over the Tigers would have been a good tonic but it was not to be as second-placed Mirboo North ran all over the Blues.
Jesse Giardina, back after injury, showed he was finals ready and caused havoc for opposing defenders, kicking four goals in a good return.
Mirboo North showed its mastery early in the game and did not allow Thorpdale to see much action.
A scoreline of 8.9 (57) to 2.3 (15) at half-time was a clear indication of what Mirboo North was about.
The Tigers added a further 10 goals to three after half-time to consolidate second position on the ladder.
Zack Kilgower was in good form around the goals with another five for Mirboo North to retain second spot on the goal kicking list.
The final margin of 87 points showed the difference between a finalist and a team outside contention as Mirboo North won 18.15 (123) to 5.6 (36) to retain the St Ellen/Bright Trophy.
