By David Nagel and Jonty Ralphsmith
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Devon Meadows suffered a surprise loss to Pearcedale on Saturday.
Unable to overcome a slow start, the Panthers went down by 45 points in a match which could have finals ramifications in a tight season.
The two clubs are in a logjam of teams from fourth to eighth fighting for two finals spots.
Pearcedale broke away to a 34-point halftime lead with Devon Meadows much more competitive thereafter but unable to claw back the margin.
Trent Cody and Joel Hillis were among the best, but the Panthers were ultimately outclassed by an outfit led by former AFL player Ryan Bastinac.
Results R13: Edi-Asp 10.10 70 v Chelsea 11.7 73, Somerville 12.18 90 v Crib Point 8.6 54, Pearcedale 12.16 88 v Devon Meadows 6.7 43, Seaford 17.11 113 v Hastings 7.14 56, Karingal 7.7 49 v Mornington 10.8 68, Rye 5.11 41 v Tyabb 17.17 119.
Ladder: Karingal 42, Mornington 38, Somerville 36, Devon Meadows 30, Edi-Asp 28, Chelsea 28, Pearcedale 28, Hastings 26, Crib Point 20, Tyabb 20, Seaford 16, Rye 0.
Fixture R14: Chelsea v Rye, Crib Point v Seaford, Devon Meadows v Karingal, Edi-Asp v Pearcedale, Hastings v Mornington, Tyabb v Somerville,
SOUTHERN – DIVISION THREE
A big last quarter helped Endeavour Hills continue its winning streak against Heatherton.
Kicking against the wind in the opening quarter, Endeavour Hills was able to keep a wasteful Heatherton to just one goal from nine shots, the margin at a manageable 12 points.
That was overcome early in the second quarter by Endeavour Hills as the game opened up, the Falcons cashing in by converting six goals.
But Heatherton was gritty in kicking three of its own to keep the margin to four points at the main break.
The Falcons were again able to absorb in the third quarter before putting five goals on the board after the last break to outlast the spirited visitors.
Midfielder John Rafferty kicked two goals, while young Liam Hasler was named best-on-ground.
It was an impressive test to survive for Matt Peake’s undefeated men, ahead of a clash with second-placed Frankston Dolphins this Saturday.
Meanwhile, the script was flipped for Narre South Saints, going down by 33 points to Ashwood.
In the contest until three-quarter-time, when it trailed by 16 points, three consecutive final quarter goals to the hosts blew the margin out.
Results: Clayton 2.3 15 v Frankston Dolphins 25.18 168, Lyndhurst 7.4 46 v Carrum Patterson Lakes 9.5 59, Ashwood 10.11 71 v Narre South Saints 5.8 38, Endeavour Hills 11.8 74 v Heatherton 6.12 48.
Ladder: Endeavour Hills 48, Frankston Dolphins 40, Ashwood 32, Carrum Patterson Lakes 24, Lyndhurst 20, Heatherton 20, Narre South Saints 8, Clayton 0.
Fixture: Heatherton v Ashwood, Clayton v Carrum Patterson Lakes, Frankston Dolphins v Endeavour Hills, Narre South Saints v Lyndhurst.
SOUTHERN – DIVISION FOUR
Five goals to Jake March have led Dandenong to a tight nine-point win over Lyndale.
The Redlegs held the upper hand from a five-goals-to-zero first quarter, with the margin remaining at a similar 32 points at the final break despite a mini Lyndale resurgence in the second quarter.
Lyndale then came hard late but left itself too much to do, with Rory Naylor named best.
Meanwhile, Doveton Eagles’ tough run continued against second-placed Hampton, going down by 141 points, flattened from the start with the Hammers kicking eight in the first stanza.
Results: Lyndale 7.14 56 v Dandenong 9.11 65, Moorabbin Kangaroos 7.16 58 v South Mornington 8.11 59, Doveton Eagles 2.3 15 v Hampton 24.22 166
Ladder: South Mornington 44, Hampton 28, Moorabbin Kangaroos 28, Dandenong 24, Doveton Eagles 12, Lyndale 8
Fixture: South Mornington v Doveton Eagles, Hampton v Dandenong, Moorabbin Kangaroos v Lyndale.
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT
Four tight encounters and one blow out…that was the order of the day in the Ellinbank and District Football League (EDFL) on Saturday as the competition closes to just six weeks out from finals.
Lang Lang is one team breathing a huge sigh of relief after the Tigers kept their faint finals hopes alive with an eight-point victory over EDFL cellar-dwellers Nilma Darnum.
The Tigers could never quite pull away from their desperate opponents, leading by six and 13 points at the first two breaks, before the Bombers played their best footy in the third.
Only stunning inaccuracy in front of goal cost Nilma from taking control of the contest, kicking 2.8 to 1.3 in the third quarter to close to two points at three-quarter time.
The Tigers prevailed in a tense final term, kicking three goals to two to deny the Bombers their first win of the season.
Travis Dyke and Lucas Maffei kicked two each for Nilma, while Lachlan Barwick and Mitch Davey guided the visitors to victory with three goals each for the Tiges.
Lang Lang is currently two games outside the top five, but has two winnable games ahead against Catani and Nyora.
The Tigers could be level with fifth-placed Poowong when the two sides collide in a season-defining battle in round 18.
A strong third quarter has led Trafalgar to a 16-point victory over a gallant Catani at Catani.
The Bloods were in a dog-fight at half time, trailing by five points, before exploding away with a 4.4 to no score third term.
The Blues tried to eat away at the 23-point deficit at the final break, but the Bloods held on to maintain their grip on third place on the ladder.
Brayde Bosman kicked three goals for the winners, while the talented Lachie Gregson booted four for the beaten-but-brave Blues.
Neerim South has dug itself out of the mire with the Cats turning a 14-point deficit at three-quarter time into a 13-point victory over Poowong.
Score were level at the main break, before the Magpies shot themselves in the foot with a 3.8 to 2.0 third quarter.
Their 14-point advantage should have been far greater, and the classy Cats pounced on the opportunity in the final term.
A final term of 4.3 to no score saw the Cats remain firmly in top-three calculations.
Lachie Bambridge kicked three for the winners while skipper Jack Hazendonk was superb all day for Poowong.
In other games this week, Ellinbank has now won five on the trot after the Eagles won a hard-fought match by 12 points against Nyora.
Scott Pugh and Travis Stewart kept the Saints in the hunt with three apiece, but five goals to Eagles’ skipper Michael Urie made the key difference in the end.
The Eagles host Poowong this week before freshening the legs with a round-16 bye.
And a 10-goal second stanza has guided Buln Buln to a 158-point thumping of Longwarry.
Bob McCallum kicked five goals for the Lyrebirds; while three each to Hayden Baker, Reece Campbell and Jake Baker spread the load beautifully for the premiership favourites.
Buln Buln heads to Trafalgar this week for the EDFL Match of the Round.
Ellinbank Results R14: Nilma Darnum 7.15.57 def by Lang Lang 9.11.65, Catani 6.4.40 def by Trafalgar 7.14.56, Buln Buln 28.17.185 def Longwarry 4.3.27, Nyora 9.6.60 def by Ellinbank 10.12.72, Poowong 4.12.36 def by Neerim South 7.7.49. Yarragon – Bye.
Ladder: Buln Buln 48, Ellinbank 44, Trafalgar 40, Neerim South 38, Poowong 28, Lang Lang 24, Longwarry 20, Yarragon 18, Nyora 12, Catani 8, Nilma Darnum 0.
Fixture R15: Lang Lang (6) v Catani (10), Trafalgar (3) v Buln Buln (1), Longwarry (7) v Nyora (9), Ellinbank (2) v Poowong (5), Yarragon (8) v Nilma Darnum (11). Neerim South (4) – Bye.
