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Round 15 Mid Gippsland Football Wrap-Up

Commentary of all of the major plays, from a footy insider

By Gary Stevens - 30th July 2002 - Back to News

Yarragon put a massive dent in Hill End's slim finals hopes, recording its second consecutive win. The Panthers, which had won just two games before the weekend, won by 56 points against the odds. It was a fitting win for Yarragon, which celebrated 25 years since its first and only premiership in the MGFL. It has also been 25 years since the side has been affiliated with the league. The past players celebrated with a reunion over the weekend, and the Panthers responded with their biggest win of the year.

Yarragon led at every change and by three quarter time the margin was 28 points. However the Panthers saved the best for last, piling on six goals to two in the final quarter and eventually winning. Though Yarragon's season was over early, Hill End's loss could signal the end of any chance it had of making the finals, with games against Newborough and Trafalgar yet to come. Brothers Luke and Marcus Hanley were Yarragon's best players, with veteran defender Mark Wilms kicking five goals in his new role up forward. Damian Pyle, Paul Walsh and Ian Stansbury played well for the Hillmen.

Yinnar knocked Yallourn/Yallourn North out of third position, a position the Bombers had held since they lost to Yinnar in round six. The Magpies overcame a poor second quarter performance to crawl back from 29 points down, eventually winning by 25 points. Yinnar coach Brett Sherriff said the second quarter, in which YYN kicked six goals to the Magpies' none, was a "lazy effort" by his players. "The delivery on some of the players' decision making was pretty bad in the second quarter, and it cost us," he said. "We really didn't work hard enough, and made a few turnovers that they (YYN) took advantage of. It caught a few of our players out. "But we weren't down and out and it showed great character that the players could turn it around."

Yinnar had dominated the scoreboard in the first term, youngster Lee Clarke getting off to a lightning start. He set a number of goals up throughout the hysical quarter, including the first goal of the match to Cameron Harwood. Rick Galea and Darren Hill each goaled in the first term and Harwood booted his second as Yinnar raced out to an early 15 point lead at quarter time. The game could not have been more different in the second quarter as YYN finally made the most of its opportunities. The Bombers found enough space for Brent Harriage to goal from a slight angle early in the quarter. Les Brown and Shane Galea booted majors, Galea's putting YYN in front.

The Bombers' confidence was up and everything went right for them. Coach Leo Galea put in a bid to play in Saturday night's Leeds United vs Colo Colo soccer match with a great kick off the ground as the Bombers went into half time as 23 point leaders. After the main break Dean Julin goaled for the Bombers and with the margin at 29 points it seemed the side would run away with the game and cause a major upset. But the third quarter produced a remarkable change in play and a 15 minute turn around, Kade Walsh breaking YYN's streak of seven straight goals with Yinnar's first since the opening quarter.

Clarke continued his good form with a goal, while Harwood kicked his second to cut the margin back to just two points midway through the quarter. The Pies were inaccurate, kicking 6-7 in the third term but had a 13 point lead at the final change. They eventually ran away with the game, booting three goals to one in the last quarter to win and hurt YYN's hopes for the all-important double chance.

Ruckman David King dominated the ground for most of the day for Yinnar, while Clarke was also rewarded for his great game. Mark Andrew - who amazingly kicked the Pies' last five goals of the match - was also named as one of Yinnar's best. The loss means the Bombers will have to win every match for the rest of the season and hope that Trafalgar loses a game if they are to finish in the top three. YYN's mid-season slump could come back to haunt it.

Ben Stoops booted nine goals and was best on ground in Boolarra's huge 112 point win over Morwell East. Stoops kicked the first goal of the game and did not stop there, as the Demons shot out to an unassailable 57 point lead at the main change. The Hawks missed coach Doug Bell's onfield leadership, as they failed to kick a goal in the final quarter, eventually suffering a hefty loss.

Boolarra is now a game ahead of sixth position and seem to have staked a strong claim for fifth and a berth in the finals. Colin Gibson-Williamson was ever-reliable, and Ryan Ibbetson also played well. For Morwell East Tony Martinac tried his hardest, while Brett Campbell and Chris Cowton did their best to no avail.

Trafalgar won its fifth in a row and inched into third position with a comfortable win over Mirboo North. The Bloods could not find the big sticks early, with wayward kicking threatening to cost them. They led by just 10 points at half time and could only hope for an improvement in the third term. The improvement came, Trafalgar booting seven goals in the premiership quarter and eventually held on to win by 37 points. Clayton Rogers was strong up forward, as was Rob McPherson who booted six. Mirboo North will need to win at least two more games to make the finals, the Tigers' best chances coming against Boolarra and Yarragon.

Newborough bounced back from last week's unexpected loss with a big win against Thorpdale. Despite missing a number of players including coach Dean Caldow and Tony Chipperfield, the Dogs proved too good, winning by 106 points. Jason Grech kicked seven goals for Newborough, taking his tally for the season to 38. Ron Mackie was named as best on ground for Thorpdale in his 299th club game.


Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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