Gippsland Times | BOISDALE-Briagolong have ended its first season in East Gippsland football on a high, defeating Lucknow by 19 points at home on Saturday.
The Bombers led at every change, with their 17.20 (122) to 16.7 (103) win set-up by an impressive first quarter burst of 5.8.
Despite having much of the play, inaccuracy prevented the Bombers from putting the game away in the first half with the margin only five points at the main break. They widened that gap to 19 points by the final change, a margin they managed to maintain through to the full-time siren.
Best-on-ground Callan Egan kicked a game high six goals to finish the season as his club's leading goal kicker.
Having been eliminated from the finals race after a loss last week, the Magpies had very little to play for on the weekend. Shaun Ryan kicked five majors to finish the home-and-away season with 75, securing him the league goal kicking award.
Both sides looked like they had the potential to make finals at certain stages throughout the year and will rue the missed opportunity. A number of serious injuries in the middle of the season hurt the Bombers, but regardless the move to East Gippsland looks like a positive for the club with their reserves finishing 2015 on top of the ladder.
Swans primed for finals assault
AFTER consecutive losses, Stratford got itself primed for the finals series with a 112-point defeat of Lakes Entrance.
Needing an urgent turnaround in form after a poor fortnight, the Swans held their opponents to just one goal in the first three quarters on their way to a 20.25 (145) to 5.3 (33) victory.
The dominant performance would have eased some of the concerns of Stratford coach Peter Morrison, who last week said he felt his side had failed to get anywhere near its form of last year throughout 2015.
Although the Swans were inaccurate, the danger signs were evident early on for the Seagulls as their opponents amassed 12 scoring shots to one in the first term.
The Swans' forwards found their radar over the next two quarters kicking 12.10 to lead by a whopping 101 points at the final change, before they put the cue in the rack and allowed Lakes to hit the scoreboard in the final quarter.
Jarryd Clohesy and Stephen McKerrow led the way up forward for the Swans with five goals each, while Josh Tollner was their best player.
For the Seagulls, Luke Reggardo and Brandon Sauer kicked two goals each with Will Bushby their most consistent contributor.
The Swans will turn their attention to the much-anticipated clash with Wy Yung next weekend as they get their first opportunity to take a step towards back-to-back premierships.
Tigers too strong for Cats
FINALS contenders Wy Yung and Lindenow did battle on Saturday, with the ladder leading Tigers victorious by 42 points.
After a tight first half, the home side slowly gained the upper hand with 10 goals to four after the main break, securing a 20.9 (129) to 13.9 (87) victory.
Best-on-ground James Young led the way for the Tigers with seven goals, while Mark Sellings contributed with six.
Justin Blair kicked three goals for the Cats.
The match provided an ideal tune-up for Wy Yung as it prepares to battle Stratford for a place in the grand final. Having accounted for the Swans in the penultimate round, the Tigers will head into the finals unbeaten in their past eight matches and confident of securing redemption for last year's grand final loss.
Despite the result, facing the competition's heavyweights should have primed Lindenow for this weekend's elimination clash with Paynesville.
Gulls overrun Blues
PAYNESVILLE overcame a slow start to overrun a spirited Orbost-Snowy Rovers by 28 points.
Despite trailing at the first two breaks, the Gulls kicked eight goals to three in the second half to run out 13.14 (92) to 9.10 (64) winners.
Jordan Farquhar kicked four goals for the home side, while Ashley Pescod was their best.
With a finals berth already secure, the Gulls did all they needed to and will now prepare for their elimination clash with Lindenow this weekend.
For Orbost, having secured its first win of the season last weekend, the pressure was off heading into the weekend's match.
In his first year as coach Dave Waddell has seen some significant improvement from his young list, despite their dismal win-loss record. With another pre-season under their belt and some off-season acquisitions, the prospect of the Blues presenting more of a challenge in 2016 is realistic.
Curtley Nettleton kicked three goals for the Blues on Saturday, while Hamish Nettleton who booted two, was their best player.
EGFNL semi-finals
Second semi-finals, Saturday at Bairnsdale City Oval:
Football - seniors: Wy Yung v Stratford, 2.15pm; reserves: Boisdale-Briagolong v Stratford, 12.30pm; under 18s: Wy Yung v Orbost-Snowy Rovers, 10.45am; under 16s: Paynesville v Lakes Entrance, 9am.
Netball - A grade: Stratford v Wy Yung, 2pm; B grade: Stratford v Wy Yung, 1pm; C grade: Lakes Entrance v Stratford, noon; D grade: Lakes Entrance v Boisdale-Briagolong, 11am; under 17s: Wy Yung v Lindenow, 10am; under 15s: Lakes Entrance v Lindenow, 9am.
First semi-finals, Sunday at Bairnsdale City Oval:
Football - seniors: Paynesville v Lindenow, 2.15pm; reserves: Wy Yung v Lucknow, 12.30pm; under 18s: Lucknow v Paynesville, 10.45am; under 16s: Orbost-Snowy Rovers v Wy Yung, 9am.
Netball - A grade: Lucknow v Lindenow, 2pm; B grade: Lucknow v Lakes Entrance, 1pm; C grade: Wy Yung v Lucknow, noon; D grade: Wy Yung v Stratford, 11am; under 17s: Orbost-Snowy Rovers v Stratford, 10am; under 15s: Wy Yung v Lucknow, 9am.
