PENSHURST has booked its spot in the Mininera and District Football League senior grand final after a thrilling one-point win against Wickliffe-Lake Bolac at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

The Bombers went into the clash looking to avenge their earlier season loss to the Magpies, with the Magpies making the most of conditions to go into quarter time leading by seven points.

Inaccuracy in the second term saw Penshurst kick 3.8, in what could have been costly with how close the game was at the final siren, with the red and black going into half time with a 17-point scoreboard advantage.

The Magpies again made the most of scoring opportunities in the third term and grabbed the lead late in the quarter, meaning Penshurst had to overhaul a three-point deficit in the final term to get direct entry into the season decider.

The Bombers did just enough to get the win, 9.15 (69) to 10.8 (68).

Ian Milera booted three majors for the Bombers, while playing-coach, Jayden Watson, and Sam Weston led the way for the winners.

Wickliffe-Lake Bolac will get one more chance to qualify for the decider, taking to the field in Saturday’s preliminary final against Lismore-Derrinallum, which accounted for Hawkesdale-Macarthur in Sunday’s first semi-final at Woorndoo Recreation Reserve.

Inaccuracy from the Demons kept Hawkesdale-Macarthur in the contest early on, with Lismore-Derrinallum kicking 1.7 to the Eagles’ 2.2 in the first term.

An improved output from the red and blue saw the team edge clear by two points by half time, as Xavier McCartney had a chance to rally the Hawkesdale-Macarthur team.

The second half saw the Eagles fall further behind, trailing by 15 points, before eventually going down at the final siren, 9.9 (63) to 11.9 (75).

Lachlan Glare kicked three majors for Hawkesdale-Macarthur, while Aaron Seabrook was the team’s best in the team’s final game of 2024.

Accuracy helped the Bombers progress through to the reserves grand final, kicking 8.1 (49) to account for Glenthompson-Dunkeld’s 6.5 (41) total.

The Rams led by a point at half time, before Penshurst kicked away in the second half to win and progress straight through to the grand final.

Anthony Stengle kicked two goals for the winners, while Charlie Adams finished with two majors for the Rams.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld remains in premiership contention despite the loss, and will face-off against Lismore-Derrinallum in next week’s preliminary final.

The Demons kicked out to a 14-point lead at quarter time, before going on to record a 6.7 (43) to 5.9 (39) victory.

The Under-16.5 second semi-final was comprehensively won by Glenthompson-Dunkeld, accounting for Tatyoon by 47 points.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld put in a strong first half, kicking 4.3 to 0.2 to set up the win, eventually going on to win, 8.8 (56) to 1.3 (9).

Angus Frost and Maximus Graham each kicked two majors for the winners, while Alexander Prentice was the team’s standout player.

The Rams will have this weekend off and will face the winner of the Hawks and Caramut in the second decider.

Caramut progressed to the preliminary final with a 45-point win against Moyston-Willaura.

Netball

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR’S Mininera and District Netball Association A grade season ended on Sunday with a 22-35 loss to Woorndoo-Mortlake at Woorndoo Recreation Reserve.

The Eagles went into the clash as underdogs, and fell behind on the scoreboard early on, managing five goals in the first quarter to the Tigers’ 11.

Woorndoo-Mortlake kept the pressure on, scoring another six goals in the second term to Hawkesdale-Macarthur’s eight, as the Eagles reduced the margin and went into half time trailing, 13-17.

The yellow and black got rolling in the second half, outscoring Hawkesdale-Macarthur 18 goals to nine, to win by 13 goals.

Olivia Twaddle put up 15 goals for the Eagles in the loss.

Tatyoon accounted for Ararat Eagles on Saturday to progress straight through to the grand final, with the Eagles now into the preliminary final against the Tigers.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur ended Lismore-Derrinallum’s B grade season with a 24-20 victory on Sunday.

The Eagles trailed by one goal at the first break, before edging clear by two at half time and going on to win by four.

De-Jay Julius top-scored with 12 goals for the winners.

The team will now face Woorndoo-Mortlake in the preliminary final after the Tigers lost to Ararat Eagles by 14 goals.

The C grade second semi-final was won by Lismore-Derrinallum, 28-22, against Ararat, while the first semi-final saw Tatyoon progress with a 30-15 victory against Caramut.

Woorndoo-Mortlake progressed straight to the 18-and-Under grand final with a 27-23 victory against Penshurst, while Caramut dropped out of contention after losing to Lismore-Derrinallum, 22-29.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld took the easy route to the grand final, winning the second semi-final on Saturday against Woorndoo-Mortlake in a thrilling one-goal win, 28-27.

Sunday’s first semi-final saw another thrilling contest with one goal separating the two teams, as the Hawks accounted for the Bombers.

Great Western was the standout 13-and-Under team at the weekend, easily accounting for the Swans by seven goals, while Tatyoon edged out Glenthompson-Dunkeld in Sunday’s knockout semi-final, 15-13.