Wy Yung’s six-game East Gippsland senior football winning streak came to an abrupt end on Saturday against arch rival, Lindenow, at the Cattery, as the Cats firmed in the premiership betting.
The Cats kicked off their 125year celebration in style, thumping the Tigers by 66 points with 250-gamer, Mark Baylis kicking the final goal of the match.
The win sees Lindenow remain in second, equal on points with Boisdale Briagolong, while Wy Yung sits fourth, equal with Stratford and Lucknow.
With the game in the balance early, Cats’ key defender, Jack van Reyk, said it was a good fourquarter effort from his side.
“We’ve been trying to get a fourquarter effort week-on-week now,” he said.
“We seem to be starting off a bit slow and then building towards the back end.
“It was good to get a win for the milestone boys (Baylis and Todd Alexander, the latter playing his 100th senior game) and for Shaggy (Mark Baylis) to get a goal at the end was good and all the boys got around him.
“They are both great clubman anditwasgoodtogetawinfor them.”
The scoreboard flattered Wy Yung, who had nine scoring shots to Lindenow’s 35.
The home side’s inaccuracy of 14.21 kept the Tigers in the game until half time, where they trailed by four and 20 points at the first two breaks.
In desperate need of a big second half, Wy Yung was unable to break the shackles as Lindenow pilled on 7.4 to its 2.2 in the third quarter.
With a lead of 52 points at three quarter time, the Cats were in complete control.
The Tigers fought back with three last term goals, although it was a little too late with Wy Yung’s defence put under siege as Lindenow repeatedly kicked the ball inside its attacking 50-metre arc.
The Cats kicked 4.8 in the last term, sending a warning to other finals aspirants that they are hitting their straps.
Hard-nosed midfielder, Justin Blair, line breaking Rohan Blandford, and live wire, Darren Allen, kicked two goals each while midfield bull, Bayden Ashwood, also booted two goals in his best-onground performance.
Jeremy Woodward also had plenty of the football.
For the Tigers, James Beha booted three goals while coach, Shaun Mooney, Daniel Perrin and half back flanker, Mitch Toms, were the standouts in a losing cause.
Lucknow continued its hot form with a 58-point win over Paynesville at Lucknow.
The Magpies’ fast start set up their fifth straight win and with it they are now in striking distance of the top four.
In the first term, Lucknow kicked away with five goals to two, opening up a 19-point lead at quarter time.
The Gulls fought back in the second term, cutting the deficit to 15 points at the main break.
Lucknow’s inaccuracy kept the Gulls in the contest, although it was soon clear the Magpies were not letting this game slip.
A four-goal to one third quarter enabled Lucknow to build a 36point lead by the final break.
Paynesville was held to just one point in the final term as the Magpies kicked away with 3.7.
Jake Green was superb with a bag of five goals, his season improving along with his side’s form, while Ash Smith chipped in with three goals as he gets more comfortable with the deep forward role.
Damien Hodder kicked two goals saw plenty of action across half forward, while back pocket, Chris Hammond, was again a rebounding source along with Joel McNamara.
Paynesville coach, Aaron Cameron, and midfielder, Nick Pincott, led from the front with two goals each while youngster, Alex McLaren, continued his strong form in another best-on-ground display for his side.
After suffering two successive loses, ladder leader, Boisdale Briagolong, is back on the winners’ list after smashing Orbost Snowy by 96 points at Lochiel Park.
The Bombers asserted their dominance early kicking five goals to one in the opening term to open up a 24-point lead.
The visitors’ defensive pressure was outstanding, keeping the Blues to one behind in the next two quarters, while they pilled on eight unanswered goals to lead by 74 points at three quarter time.
Orbost Snowy worked hard in the last to score two goals, although Boisdale Briagolong continued to hit the scoreboard with 5.5.
Bomber forward, Danny Pratt, was unstoppable with five goals while Jordan Stubbe and Brendon Rathnow booted three each. Dylan Alexander, Mitchell Semmens and clearance king, Shaun Bates, played well.
For Orbost Snowy, youngster, Max Herbert, was a standout along with Jake Lawrence and the consistent Hamish Nettleton, who could be in the mix for the league best and fairest, despite his side not yet winning a game.
It was not the grand final rematch Lakes Entrance was hoping for at Stratford, going down to the Swans by 82 points. The Seagulls kicked two early goals, however once the Swans found their rhythm, they were on song, booting 5.3 as they led by 21 points at quarter time.
Lakes would only kick a further 1.3 for the match as the reigning premier bounced back to peak form in the run to finals.
Despite its difficulties to hit the scoreboard, Lakes Entrance won the second term, keeping the Swans from kicking a goal.
However, Stratford didn’t take long to click into gear after the main break, extending its 16-point half time lead to 39 at three quarter time.
A further seven goals were kicked by the Swans in the last term as the Seagulls scrambled just two behinds.
League leading goalkicker, Haydn Erfurth, and Jack Bacon, playing just his fourth senior match of the season, kicked three goals for Stratford, the latter being named best on ground.
2018 runner-up league best and fairest, Reggie Tait, was outstanding in his first match in more than a month, Gavin Bickery impressed in his second match of the season while Kaine Allen did likewise.
The Swans are getting to full strength and gathering momentum in their premiership defence.
Fraser Dostine kicked two for Lakes Entrance, while defender, Jason Puruntatameri was his side’s best.
IMAGE: Lindenow ball winner, Paul Gould, frees up midfield teammate, Bayden Ashwood, with handball, despite being under pressure from Wy Yung defender, Mitch Dewar as the Cats celebrated 125 years of football on Saturday at the Cattery with a thumping 66-point win over Wy Yung. K903-116
