PENSHURST is one win away from the Mininera and District Football League grand final after a comprehensive 64-point win against Lismore-Derrinallum at Caramut Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
The Bombers went into the qualifying final as raging favourites and dominated from the outset, kicking six goals to one in the opening quarter.
Lismore-Derrinallum won the second term, kicking three goals to two, as the Demons went into half time trailing by 26 points.
The Bombers have traditionally been a strong second half team and Saturday was no different, with the third-placed Demons unable to match their opponents, with the red and black piling on 10 goals in the third term, before going on to record a 19.12 (126) to 9.8 (62) victory.
Ian Milera kicked nine goals for the Bombers in the win, while playing-coach, Jayden Watson, and Aaron Glare also impressed for the side.
Jack Pitts bagged three goals for Lismore-Derrinallum, which will play Hawkesdale-Macarthur in the first semi-final next Sunday.
Penshurst will face Wickliffe-Lake Bolac in the second semi-final on Saturday.
Other qualifying finals
GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD also won through to the second semi-final, winning the reserves qualifying final against Ararat Eagles by 43 points.
The Rams were very efficient in front of goal, kicking 13.2 (80) to Ararat’s 5.7 (37), highlighted by four goals from Will Collins.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld will face Penshurst in Saturday’s second semi-final, while Ararat faces Lismore-Derrinallum.
Moyston-Willaura got the better of Hawkesdale-Macarthur in the Under-16.5 qualifying final, 7.7 (49) to 3.8 (26).
Jesse Parsons-Cromb kicked two majors for Hawkesdale-Macarthur, while Liam Dwyer was the team’s best player.
The Pumas will face Caramut next Sunday, while Hawkesdale-Macarthur is knocked out of premiership contention, due to the revised finals system for the juniors.
Elimination finals
HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR kept its season alive with a 15-point win against Ararat Eagles at Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve on Sunday.
The Eagles’ accuracy proved to be the different, with both teams finishing the game with the same amount of scoring shots, but Ararat’s 7.17 (59) didn’t stack up against Hawkesdale-Macarthur’s 10.14 (74).
James North and Patrick Sinnott each kicked three majors for the winners, while Aaron Seabrook and Ollie Wortley also impressed for Hawkesdale-Macarthur.
Lismore-Derrinallum kept its reserves season alive with a 43-point defeat of Wickliffe-Lake Bolac.
A scoreless first term put the Magpies on the back foot and were unable to reel in the deficit, going into half time trailing by 18 points, before eventually losing, 3.4 (22) to 8.17 (65), at the final siren.
Penshurst’s Under-16.5 season came to an end on Sunday, with the Bombers falling to Caramut by 13 points.
The red and black started positively, kicking the only goal of the opening quarter, before the Swans found their groove to kick three goals in the second term and go into the main break leading by 15 points, before going on to win, 6.15 (51) to 5.8 (38).
Nate Cameron bagged two majors for the Bombers, while Adam Linke was Penshurst’s best on ground.
Henry Russell and Kai Tonkin kicked two goals each for the Swans.
