SUNDAY

By Tim O'Connor

Newlyn looked the real premiership material on its way to a convincing qualifying final triumph over Gordon.

After breaking Sunday's match open in the second and third terms where they booted nine goals to two, the Cats took the foot off the pedal in the last to cruise to a 23-point win.

As expected, century goal-kicker Marcus Darmody played a big hand in Newlyn's success. He was the target all day for the Cats and despite missing some chances, ended the afternoon with six majors.

There were winners all over City Oval for Newlyn, with joint-coach Dan Wehrung and fellow onballer Myles Sewell lethal, Boe Bish, Scott Carey and Matt Cosgrave steady down back and Lou Campana good in the ruck.

For Gordon, Isaac McCabe had a real crack, Ben Schiltz got plenty of ball down back and Ethan Crackel and Tye Murphy were busy around the ground.

A serious leg injury to Brad Horsham, which required an ambulance to be called to the ground, was another major concern for Gordon.

Wehrung, during his speech to teammates in the rooms after the game, said the Cats should be feared by the rest of the competition.

"We really rate Gordon as a footy side. We hadn't seen them for a long time, but their results throughout the second half of the year, they were really putting some teams away," he told The Courier.

"We were set for it. We like to think our game plan stacks up against anyone so we are absolutely rapt."

Gordon coach Ron Watt was full of praise for his opposition.

"They were great," he said.

"I thought they were very good all day. We were good in the first and the last quarter - the second and third quarter we were pathetic. We lost our way, we let them have a lot of easy touches and when you let Newlyn do that, they cut you up a bit."

Next Sunday, the Eagles will take on Beaufort in a knockout semi-final.

Newlyn 11.11 (77) d Gordon 7.12 (54)

NEWLYN

Goal Kickers: M. Darmody 6, M. Sewell, T. May, D. Lourey, D. Fishwick, L. Bull

Best Players: M. Sewell, D. Wehrung, M. Cosgrave, L. Campana, S. Carey, W. Carter

GORDON

Goal Kickers: A. Toohey 3, B. Sutcliffe 2, E. Crackel, M. Nolan

Best Players: I. McCabe, E. Crackel, T. Murphy, G. Clifford, L. Gunnell, J. Evans

By John McGregor

It wasn't pretty but Beaufort proved too good for Springbank in Sunday's elimination final at Buninyong.

It was a 22-point margin at the final siren.

In difficult conditions, the two sides fought out a see-sawing contest that came down to who would be left standing at the end.

The Tigers looked the goods right from the start with Billy Driscoll kicking the first goal of the day in less than a minute.

Springbank led by a straight kick at the first break, but the second term saw the Crows surge ahead with a five-goal burst.

The Tigers floundered with a lonely behind the only scoring shot for the quarter until Driscoll booted a major before half time.

Tempers flared and frustrations erupted as the Tigers put the foot down and dominated play in the third term.

The Crows were held scoreless and the Tigers got to within five points of the lead.

It was Beaufort which seized the opportunities and overpowered Springbank in the final stanza.

The Crows' scoreboard pressure was spearheaded by Lachie Murray, who booted six majors. Zach Leckie, Joe Mason, Mick Foster and Jarrod Trigg kicked handy singles.

Goal-scorers led the best on ground performances, but Brendan Howard and Nick Sullivan were rock solid.

Springbank's best were led by James Thompson, Jonathon O'Brien, Justin Simpson and Sam Cue.

Driscoll top-scored for the Tigers with three goals and singles came from Mitch Keighrey, Todd Finco, Justin Simpson and Tim Horan.

Finco was sent off for 20 minutes during the match. He was also reported for intentionally striking Mason.

Bueaufort coach Rohan Brown was upbeat and looking forward to the finals campaign.

"It was a bit of a grind. Pleasing to get through to another final. It wasn't our prettiest display but we just found a way to win against a quality side," he said.

Springbank coach Joe Otto gave credit to Beaufort.

"They were just too good in the end. It was pretty even all day. Just unfortunate Todd Finco was sent off in the first quarter. He was off the ground for 20 minutes... that really hurt us," he said.

While the Tigers' season is over, the Crows now plan for a semi-final battle with Gordon.

Beaufort 10.7 (67) d Springbank 7.3 (45)

BEAUFORT

Goal Kickers: L. Murray 6, Z. Leckie, J. Mason, M. Foster, J. Trigg

Best Players: B. Howard, M. Foster, L. Murray, N. Sullivan, J. Mason, J. Trigg

SPRINGBANK

Goal Kickers: W. Driscoll 3, M. Keighrey, T. Finco, J. Simpson, T. Horan

Best Players: J. Thompson, J. O'Brien, J. Simpson, S. Cue, W. Driscoll, P. Lewis

SATURDAY

By Tim O'Connor

Hepburn's Sam Dunstan kicked his 100th goal of the Central Highlands Football League season as the Burras dug deep to wear down a gallant Skipton.

Dunstan wasn't at his absolute best in Saturday's elimination final at Buninyong, but bobbed up in each quarter and ultimately proved a major difference between the two sides.

He registered his 100th goal of the campaign and seventh for the afternoon with a snap during general play just before time on in the last term.

By then, the match was safely in the Burras' keeping, but it hadn't looked that way only a short time earlier.

Skipton piled on four goals in a morale-boosting second term and the scores were level heading into the main break. Hepburn edged ahead during the third term, but only held a narrow 13-point advantage at the final change.

With the Emus kicking with a slight wind advantage, the two sides traded behinds early in the last quarter before a towering Dunstan mark brought up goal number 99. Two pieces of Brad McKay magic then contributed to two Hepburn sealers.

It was then Dunstan's seventh major that put the icing on the cake for the Burras, which march on to meet Buninyong next weekend.

While Sam Dunstan dominated in attack, it was perhaps his brother Nathan that was the standout for the winners in the ruck. McKay was another that helped decide the match after half time, while Dan O'Halloran was busy all over the ground and across four quarters.

For Skipton, Andrew Pitson came into the game under an injury cloud but performed admirably, defenders Andrew Fay and Mark Hoare were great and Josh Draffin gave the team plenty of drive into attack.

The season is now over for the Emus, which will be proud of what they have achieved in becoming the first former Lexton Plains league side to reach a CHFL senior finals series.

Hepburn 11.15 (81) d Skipton 6.12 (48)

HEPBURN

Goal Kickers: S. Dunstan 7, J. Clarke, A. Ferrier, B. McKay, M. McKay

Best Players: N. Dunstan, B. McKay, S. Dunstan, J. Clarke, D. O'Halloran, N. Johns

SKIPTON

Goal Kickers: R. Uwland 3, B. Draffin 2, C. Townrow

Best Players: A. Pitson, M. Hoare, A. Fay, J. Draffin, B. Draffin, R. Uwland

By John McGregor

Waubra knocked the minor premiers Buninyong off its pedestal by 71 points in Saturday's qualifying final at Marty Busch Reserve.

It was a shock for the Bombers which had been running hot and had leapfrogged their way over a struggling Kangaroos outfit to claim top spot on the ladder.

Waubra had been undefeated for 14 weeks but succumbed to injury pressures and had lost its last three games of the home and away season.

But what a comeback it was.

Enormous drive out of the centre came from James Lukich, Lincoln Barnes and ruckman Ryan Head.

It was the forward pressure from Austin Murphy, Jared Crabtree, Dean Robertson and John Coleman that had the scoreboard ticking over.

Murphy and Crabtree booted six majors each, Robertson three and Coleman a handy pair.

Lukich and William Corbett contributed singles.

Compared to the sedate pace of the first half where Waubra led by 10 points at the main break, the second was a rout.

Within 10 minutes from half time, Robertson had kicked three majors and the Kangaroos got cracking with nine goals for the quarter.

Tempers ran hot in the final term with Buninyong giving away several free kicks in front of goal and the umpires intervened a few times to maintain order.

Bomber Adam Scott was reported twice, once for making forceful contact using the head and once for intentionally striking Crabtree. Both cases will go to tribunal.

Ned Gilbert, Caius Barrenger, Jarrod Rodgers, Alex Bomitali and Jake Dunne held their own for Buninyong. Barrenger kicked four goals.

Waubra coach Matt James said it was great to see a rejuvenated side after a lacklustre few weeks.

"The boys were a bit flat through the past few weeks. But we were able to come with a bit of fighting spirit. It was good to be game-on early," he said.

Buninyong coach Shaun O'Loughlin was gutted and bewildered at what had transpired.

"It doesn't represent at all the way we have been playing. It would have been good to get through to the prelims as quick as we could. But now we've got to go the long way," he said.

Waubra 19.10 (124) d Buninyong 8.5 (53)

WAUBRA

Goal Kickers: A. Murphy 6, J. Crabtree 6, D. Robertson 3, J. Coleman 2, J. Lukich, W. Corbett

Best Players: C. McGrath, J. Crabtree, D. Robertson, A. Murphy, R. Head, L. Barnes

BUNINYONG

Goal Kickers: C. Barrenger 4, D. Micallef, S. Russell, J. Romeril

Best Players: N. Gilbert, C. Barrenger, J. Rodgers, A. Bomitali, J. Dunne

WEEK 2 FINALS

(Venues TBC)

SATURDAY

SENIORS: Buninyong v Hepburn

RESERVES: Newlyn v Dunnstown

UNDER-18: Hepburn v Carngham-Linton

UNDER-15: Dunnstown v Learmonth

SUNDAY

SENIORS: Gordon v Beaufort

RESERVES: Springbank v Gordon

UNDER-18: Springbank v Bungaree

UNDER-15: Buninyong v Beaufort