LEONGATHA went into half time with a two-goal lead in a dour, defensive contest with near-neighbours Wonthaggi on Saturday and then got the crucial first goal of the third quarter, at the 10 minute mark, through Jenson Garnham to take control and ultimately go on to a 14-point victory.
The loss by Wonthaggi was not as damaging in terms of ladder positions as it might have been on a day of upsets and near upsets elsewhere in the Gippsland league.
Warragul's win over Sale and Bairnsdale's big win over Maffra leave them in equal fifth spot with Wonthaggi a game away in seventh position but not out of the finals' race with games against Traralgon, Maffra, Bairnsdale, Drouin and Moe still left to define their season.
Leongatha sits a game and a half and percentage ahead of Traralgon on top thanks to Saturday's determined effort.
Match report: There had been nothing in the game until half time with the defences of both teams on top, understandable in the slippy conditions with occasional showers.
But Wonthaggi was giving as good as it was getting with fill-in ruckman Shannon Bray taking on big Benny Willis and Jarrad Stewart, and at least halving the contest. Aiden Lindsay and Tom Marriott were having a ding-dong on the ball, reducing each others’ effectiveness and it was left to the half backs of both teams who provided much of the drive.
Wonthaggi’s Jarryd Blair opened the scoring with an early goal, a nice 40 metre shot after receiving from Noah Anderson and he continued to crash the packs, tackle and win the hard ball throughout.
But the Power missed a few gettable shots and Leongatha responded in short order with goals to Jackson Harry and Jenson Garnham and they went to the first break with a narrow lead and the big crowd enjoying a tight contest.
In the second quarter it was Jenson Garnham who extended the lead with two early goals before Wonthaggi could pull one back through Noah Anderson and there was only 11 points in it at the long break.
Wonthaggi moved Bray forward to provide something that was lacking up forward for the Power, a tall, contested player who could bring the ball to ground and create opportunities for McInnes, Jarrdy Blair, Jaxon Williams and others.
Duve for Wonthaggi and Garnham for Leongatha missed early shots at the start of the third quarter but ultimately Jackson Harry seized on a contested ball and passed to the leading Garnham who made no mistake from 25 metres with his fourth, stretching the lead to 18 points on a low-scoring day.
Power had the ball forward regularly, in fact 11 forward 50s to the 20-minute mark as compared to Leongatha’s six. Bray was playing his role up there, but it wasn’t until McInnes scored Power’s first goal since quarter time that they got back into it on the scoreboard.
But with a fine snap Ty Hall of Leongatha restored the lead and it was back to 18 points the difference at the last break. Wonthaggi weren’t out of it but with another shower of rain during the third term, it was going to be a tough ask.
Straight after the restart, Wonthaggi were regularly in attack and Nathan Brown cut the Parrots' lead to just 11 points with a classy goal but at the other end, Tom Marriott roved the ball superbly, hit the pack and snapped a beauty as Leongatha constantly had the answer - the lead back to 17 points at the seven-minute mark. They appeared to be doing enouth to hold out a determined Wonthaggi side, needing to win to stay in touch with the leading division in the tight Gippsland League.
In the run to the line, both teams had chances to kick further goals but in showery conditions it wasn't easy. Wonthaggi continued to come and had their best chance to cut the lead to single digits when Isaac Chugg raced clear late, passed to Kaj Patterson who found McInnes, but he could only manage a point after a free kick from close range.
Blake Cornelis took a flying shot late but as it turned out, there were to be no further goals and Leongatha ran out 14-point winners - Leongatha 7.8.50 to an inaccurate Wonthaggi 4.12.36.
