Orbost Snowy Rovers’ chances of playing finals in the East Gippsland Football Netball League reserves competition are delicately placed with three rounds to go, after succumbing to unbeaten ladder leader, Boisdale Briagolong by 34 points at the Cabbage Patch in round 14 action.
The Blues sit in sixth place on the table, two games ajar of the fourth-ranked Lindenow, with winnable matches against Lakes Entrance, Wy Yung and Paynesville to come, but they will be relying the sides above them make significant errors if
they are to be part of the finals action in 2025.
The Blues certainly weren’t disgraced against the Bombers, but were out of the game at quarter time when Boisdale had opened up a handy 15-point advantage.
The lead was 24 points at half time and 42 at three
quarter time, but the Blues stuck to the task, kicking three goals to two in the final term, outscoring the premiership favourite and narrowing the losing margin.
Coach, Andrew Kenny and Kyle Derbyshire both kicked three goals for Orbost, with the better players being Lachlan Barnes, Lachlan Osborn, Tim Findley, Hayden Kenny, Derbyshire and Luke Borley.
It was a better result in the thirds, with the Blues running out emphatic 105-point winners despite a shaky start.
The Bombers kicked the only goal in the competitive opening term, leading by four points at quarter time, but Orbost dominated the final three stanzas, kicking 17 unanswered goals, led by Angus Joiner who snagged eight, with Finn Donnellan kicking four and Jack Barnes a couple.
Among the best players in a dominant team performance were Barnes, Will Craigie, Joiner, Donnellan, Jet Kane and Andrew Robinson.
The reigning premiers currently sit in third place on the ladder, working into some good form as their flag defence gains momentum.
Orbost Snowy Rovers will host arch rival, Lakes Entrance at Lochiel Park
this Saturday.
