Maffra maintained its place in the top five of the Gippsland League reserves with a comfortable 45-point victory over arch rival Bairnsdale in round five action at Bairnsdale City Oval last Saturday.
Both sides went into the contest with a 50 per cent win ratio for the season, with the winner having the honour of occupying fifth place on the table.
After six unanswered first term goals, the match was the Eagles’.
Seb Pendergast and Daniel Tocher impressed up forward for the Eagles, kicking three goals each, joined in the best by Jack Kelly, Joel Lambourn and last year’s Boisdale-Briagolong premiership coach, Sam Bedggood, having a game with his old club, with the Bombers having the bye.
Caleb Crofts led the scoring for Bairnsdale, again kicking three goals, with the better players being veteran Bryan Froud, Michael Stephenson, Riley Taylor and Jason Waddell.
It was a better result for Bairnsdale in the under 18s, with the Redlegs kicking seven goals to three in the second half after trailing by two points at half time.
The win has propelled the Redlegs above the Eagles and into fourth place on the ladder.
Both sides contained plenty of players with talent, with Rex Hargreaves again among the action in the forward 50 for the winners, finishing with three goals and best afield Ollie Emmett booting two.
Other standouts for Bairnsdale were Orbost recruit, Jacob Farley, Harry McGuinn, Max Neate and skipper Charlie Cook.
Zac O’Keefe kicked two goals for the Eagles, who were best served by Elijh Berry, Thomas Phillips, Matt Rondon, Charlie Ross, Will Burgiel and Jaylen Henry.
A slow start cost the Redlegs in the under 16s, scoreless in the first term, they were reverted to playing catch up for much of the match.
Trailing by seven points at the final change, they were well placed to make a late assault, but it wasn’t to be, Maffra dominating the final term with bad kicking from the Eagles flattering the 21-point winning margin from a Bairnsdale perspective.
Maffra is third on the ladder and Bairnsdale fifth, separated by Saturday’s four winning points.
Lindenow-listed player Titus Harrison impressed for Bairnsdale, joined in the best by Luca Desio, Daniel Martin, Harley Young, Flynn Ashwood and Zane Holley (three goals).
