EFNL 2023: Chirnside Park upsets Surrey Park, closes gap on top four

The Panthers have closed the gap on the Division 4 top four to just one match following an upset defeat of the ladder-leader on Saturday ...

The Division 4 finals race has been thrown open.

Chirnside Park has closed the gap on the top four to just one match following its upset victory over ladder-leader Surrey Park on Saturday, 10.9 (69) to 4.8 (32).

Meanwhile, Scoresby jumped into second spot with a 12-point win over fourth-placed Forest Hill.

Chirnside Park senior coach Dave Newlands said the result would be a major confidence-boost in his side’s finals hunt, which sits in fifth with a 4-5 record.

It was also dealt the further loss of key spine players Sean Atkinson, Lachie Tindall and Blake Daniell following last round’s victory, but a host of names are expected back in the coming weeks.

Samuel King kicked two goals for Chirnside Park on Saturday. Photo: Hamish Blair

“They’re keen,” Newlands said of his side’s finals pursuit.

“When they walked off that ground (on Saturday) you could see, it just twigged – they were just waiting to take that scalp and I think it’s just reassurance for themselves.

“We’re playing without our spine every week and we lost another three (from the previous week).

“They know they can do it and as long as they play four quarters of footy, they’re very hard to beat.

“With the talent coming (back from injury) over the next two to four weeks, that’ll just top us up really well.”

Chirnside Park kicked away amid a howling breeze in the second term, taking a 26-point lead into half-time before Surrey hit back to cut the deficit to just three at the final change.

But the hosts weren’t to be denied in the last term, piling on six majors with the wind.

Brodie Gray lit it up on the wing, changing with twin brother Corey on debut, while under-17 talent Ryan Nunziante featured in his maiden senior appearance, providing “plenty of run” from half-forward according to the coach.

“It might be the first time twins have actually played for our club in the seniors … and they (Brodie and Corey) were changing with each other – they hard-running kids that love a contest,” Newlands said.

“Just the excitement with the young kids out there was just brilliant … it picks up blokes like (Ben) Slattery, the Clavant boys, ‘Sticks’ (Grattan Stephens), everyone just played well across four quarters of footy.”