Gippsland Times | MAFFRA has stormed to the top of the Gippsland League football ladder with a win at Leongatha on Saturday.
The Eagles won the top two clash 14.11 (95) to 9.9 (63).
"Happy to go down there and win, it's always hard," Eagles coach Wayne Butcher said.
The undermanned Parrots got off to the better start and led by 10 points at quarter-time. However, it was all Maffra in the second as the visitor slammed on six goals to one to lead by 15 points at half-time.
Despite losing forward Darren Sheen to a thigh injury, the Eagles managed to further extend their buffer in the third to lead by 37 points at three-quarter-time.
The home team outscored the Eagles in the final term, but it was too little too late as the Parrots conceded their third loss for the season and top spot on the ladder.
"It was good for us, they had a couple of injuries, but we can only beat what they put out there," Butcher said.
"Our tackling and pressure won us the game, we really harassed and pressured them."
Butcher conceded while he had hoped his side could nab the four points, it was far from a sure thing.
"We wanted to win but they are a good side, top of the ladder," he said.
Maroons consolidate third place
TRARALGON consolidated third spot with a 28-point win over Drouin.
The Hawks were without two of their best players, with coach Bob McCallum and midfielder Daniel Nicholls playing for Victoria Country in its win over Victorian Amateur Football Association. The pair played for Vic Country alongside Traralgon coach Mark Collison.
The Maroons were inaccurate in their 9.20 (74) to 7.4 (46) win, which saw Drouin slip to seventh on the ladder.
Fourth win for Redlegs
BAIRNSDALE notched up its fourth win of the season, winning a low scoring encounter at Warragul.
As was the case earlier in the year, the Redlegs got off to a good start and led by 27 points at quarter-time.
The Gulls fought their way back into the contest in the second term and trailed by just 11 points at half-time. That was the margin again at three-quarter-time, before a goal-less last term saw the visitor run out a narrow winner 6.11 (47) to 5.15 (39).
Morwell wins derby
MORWELL got the better of Latrobe Valley rival Moe on Sunday.
The Lions had the upper hand early and led by 12 points at quarter-time before the reigning premier worked its way back into the contest with three unanswered goals to lead by eight points at half-time.
By three-quarter-time, Morwell's lead was out to 30 points, in what would prove to be the difference in the end as the home team ran out a 32-point winner, 10.12 (72) to 6.4 (40).
The victory elevated the Tigers into sixth on the ladder, where it sits on equal points with Sale and Drouin.
