PANTHERS LOSE, BUT WIN

Espy lost back to back games for the first time this season thanks to a superb effort from Newport, but still came out winners over the weekend.

Torquay’s loss to Dallas means that the Panthers can not be caught at the top of the ladder and are officially the minor premiers for 2016. They will have a weeks break to start the final series followed by a second semi final against the winner of 2 v 3 in week one.

In other games, Yovi Bay struggles to shake cellar dwellers Sunbury, with an injury to Rischetelli giving the Pirates they break they needed to win the game.

Dallas have a huge win over Torquay, bringing the Stingrays back a game and widening the log jam.

The Butterflies got over the Pigs who lost captain Liberatore to Injury. In a big los o the Pigs, this is a big win for Flemington. Both are now one game out of the five with a superior percentage over Dallas in fifth.

Coburg just got home against the Rhinos’s who look to have again lost Ablett to a shoulder injury. Coburg are still a mathematical chance to make it, while West Melton are still a game clear off the bottom of the table.