The Cats beat the bottom side by 34 points at Gordon on Saturday and play seventh-placed Ballan on Saturday.

The win over Gordon was not easy with the home side putting in one of its strongest efforts in 2007.

The Eagles were only two goals adrift at half time and challenged Newlyn throughout the game.

But the Cats, through best players, Jamie Wilson, Ben Ackland and Daniel Clark, gained control and proved too strong across the ground.

The Cats have to win all four remaining games to have a chance of making the top five, but a finals appearance is extremely unlikely after fifth placed Bungaree crushed Beaufort by 216 points on Saturday.

Ballan beat Newlyn by five points earlier in the season.

At Learmonth Clunes provided the finals contenders with a tough battle, but the Lakies' class allowed them to register a 32-point win.

Muddy conditions gave Clunes a good start and the Magpies held Learmonth scoreless in the first quarter to forged a 14-point lead at quarter time.

But Learmonth pinched the lead by half time with the help of important goals from Leon Davey and Sam Basham.

The third term was evenly contested with both sides managing just one goal in the muddy conditions.

Seven points down at three-quarter time and with strong contributions from Jason Yole and Jason Marnell, Clunes threatened to cause an upset.

But the Lakies kicked four unanswered goals in the last quarter to run away with the game. The defeat leaves Clunes fourth from the bottom of the CHFL, but on equal points to second bottom Beaufort.

The Magpies will take on Springbank on Saturday at Springbank.