SIX runs separated Dennington and Merrivale on the final Warrnambool and District Cricket Association division one ladder.
West Warrnambool secured the minor premiership after defeating Dennington by four runs in the battle for top spot.
Woodford finished second with Dennington and Merrivale fighting it out for third and fourth.
The Dogs finished third on the ladder with 145.67 points, edging out the Tigers on 145.61
Dennington took one wicket against West Warrnambool in its second innings, which enabled it to snare third.
West Warrnambool will play Merrivale and Woodford will clash with Dennington in next weekend’s semi-finals.
The Panthers defended a miserly 124 against Dennington.
The Dogs resumed at 3-41 on day two and were all out for 120.
Dennington lost its last four wickets for five runs.
Panthers’ Simon Johnson was dominant with the ball, taking 4-34 off 30 overs.
His spell included 17 maidens.
Corey McDonald was also influential with the ball, finishing with 3-21 off 19.2 overs.
West Warrnambool batted a second time, with teenager Ben Threlfall (51 not out), Alistair Templeton (49) and Stuart Poyner (35 not out) helping it to 1-141.
Woodford all-rounder Nick Butters fine-tuned for finals, blasting an unbeaten 153 in the Eels’ second innings against Nirranda.
Defending a first innings total of 187, the Eels skittled the Knights for 121.
Butters, who made 72 in the first innings, grasped his second stint at the crease.
He was the mainstay as Woodford piled on 2-233 off 32 overs.
“I got lucky. I was dropped a few times and just swung,” Butters said.
“They gave everyone a bowl and the ground was quick and small at Koroit.”
Woodford coach John Houston said Butters’ knock was a sign of his maturity.
“Everyone knows what he is capable of but it’s probably taken until now to see it,” he said.
“We have seen it in patches but yesterday he put it all together.’’
Merrivale secured its finals spot with a 78-run win against Russells Creek.
Defending 6-224, the Tigers bundled the Creekers out for 146.
Will Chapples got 4-16 and Simon Fleming was 3-40.
Merrivale went in to bat for a second time, with Josh Stapleton (56 not out) and Chapples (70 not out) helping the side to 0-128 off 13 overs.
Port Fairy belted Nestles by nine wickets.
The Pirates started day two 12 runs ahead, having dismissed the Factory for a meagre 64, and belted 303.
Teenager Brad Parsons hit 94, while Andrew McCartney (57) and Nayantha Weeraman (52) were strong contributors.
Nestles made 1-32 off nine overs in its second dig.
East Warrnambool-YCW finished with a one-wicket win against Wesley-CBC.
Chasing 154, the Broncos snuck home after they were in trouble early at 4-24. Beaver Thomas Bowman took 3-38.
Allansford scored a four-wicket win against Brierly-Christ Church.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au