In blustery conditions at City Oval yesterday, Wy Yung prevailed in a nail-biting East Gippsland football under 14 grand final against Lucknow.
The Tigers’ lead reached 39 before the Magpies finished with a late goal blitz, however it wasn’t enough to reel in the Tigers, who held on for a seven-point win.
After dominating early possession, the Tigers got the first goal through Nate Somerville.
Noah Esdaile got the Tigers’ second moments later with the aid of the wind as their lead stretched out to 16.
Jayke Andrews-Hei made it three Tigers goals in a row after tapping the ball to his own advantage.
Wy Yung made all the early running and was rewarded with a 22-point lead at the 12-minute mark.
Riley Thomas kicked the Tigers’ fourth in a row soon after as the Magpies struggled to find an avenue forward against the breeze.
At quarter time the Tigers held a 28-point lead after keeping Lucknow scoreless.
With the wind now in its advantage, the Pies got the first goal of the second term through Anthony Sands, reducing the deficit to 20.
Lucknow got within 14 moments later following another major as momentum began to swing.
Against the run of play, Angus Burchall marked a goal attempt that dropped short and goaled to put the Tigers back in front by 20.
Will Triplett added a dribble goal for the Tigers before Somerville finished off some great team play to put Wy Yung up by 33 points.
While Lucknow fought back early in the second term, the Tigers responded and continued to build their lead.
Lucknow skipper, Jay Lawson, breathed life into his side with a late major, but Triplett answered for the Tigers soon after as they led by five goals at half time.
For a brief period, Lucknow had gained the ascendancy, but Wy Yung dominated the latter stages of the half.
At the start of the third, Thomas extended the Tigers’ margin to 39, however Beau Stuchbery slotted Lucknow’s fourth of the match a minute later.
After a scrap on the goal line, Noah Rutherford collected the ball and snapped a major. He had another from the resultant centre bounce after a free kick was reversed.
After moving the ball from end to end, Hayden Cooper slotted another Lucknow major to put his team within 16 points.
With seconds left on the clock, a snap from Esdaile rolled through for a major as the Tigers led by 23 points heading into the final term.
The Magpies made significant inroads into the Tigers’ lead during the third stanza, but would need to keep the pressure up in the fourth term.
That is exactly what they did as Sands delivered from a set shot the Tigers’ once comfortable shrinking by the minute.
Rutherford kicked a late major to get within seven, but the Tigers had done enough to hold on, stabilising through the final term when the heat was on.
Andrews-Hei collected plenty of touches on the wings, while Nate Somerville and Sage Haussegger led the Tigers’ dominant midfield.
Matt Leong tried his best for Lucknow, while Rutherford and Mitchell Wimpress impressed.
Jay Ladson was named best on ground in a losing effort for the Magpies.
PICTURED: Wy Yung was crowned the East Gippsland Junior Football Association under 14 premier by defeating Lucknow in a nail-biter by seven points at Bairnsdale City Oval yesterday. It was a great day for the Tigers as their under 12 side also scored a premiership victory over Lindenow.
