ZOE ASKEW
NETBALL
By ZOE ASKEW LET’S talk netball, shall we? At the weekend, the Gippsland League and North Gippsland Football-Netball League commenced the 2023 season with some Round 1 results shaking up the competition from the get-go. After their NGFNL finals campaign was cut short by Sale City, Glengarry returned to the court for 2023 in style with a convincing 76 to 53 win over 2022 grand finalists Rosedale. Woodside continued their hot form with a 63 to 42 win over Yallourn Yallourn North, while Yarram seems to have dropped the ball from last year’s finals performance, going down to Churchill 57 to 32, with Rachael Loechel winning best on court for the Cougars. Cowwarr defeated Gormandale 59 to 36 and Sale City easily accounted for Traralgon Tyers United winning 69 to 25. In the Gippsland League following an entire season of losses, Bairnsdale started the 2023 season with a bang, claiming the win over Maffra 43 to 35 – what was it that was said in the 2023 season preview? “It’s only up from here for Bairnsdale”. Ain’t that the truth? Olivia Betts, Anna Mooney and Sally Deller were best on for the Redlegs. Chloe Proud, Rebecca Bourke and Chelsea Allman were best for Maffra. Morwell established their dominance as Gippsland League reigning champions after defeating Moe in a close 54 to 51 battle at Ted Summerton Reserve on Saturday. Claire Allison, Chloe Radford and Tanya Budge were best on for Morwell, while Ramayer Gourley, Alex Moody and Olivia Barnett were Moe’s top players. Sale started the 2023 season strongly, trouncing Wonthaggi 52 to 38 at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve. Dee Dee Lambert, Rachel Ronaldson, Kasey Dessent were best on for Sale, while Wonthaggi’s best were Jess Blair, Cassidy Bowman, Mia Plenkovich. Leongatha defeated Traralgon 42 to 32, and Drouin overcame Warragul 48 to 40 in the Western Derby on Sunday. With the season paused this weekend for Easter, teams have an entire week to recover from Round 1 soreness, with some teams sure to use the break to repair their egos ahead of Round 2. That is, with the exception of YYN and Yarram, who do battle on Good Friday. Mid Gippsland netball begins April 22. Morwell East is playing a standalone game on April 15 against Foster.
