NETBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
Rosedale remains atop the North Gippsland A grade ladder and undefeated in season 2018 after a 16-goal win against Traralgon Tyers United on Saturday.
Blues coach Staci Scott said the side would focus closely on their full court transition and intensity in defence ahead of the round eight clash against Glengarry.
“I thought we played really strongly, the first quarter was fantastic netball by both sides and I just think the point of difference was that we maintained our consistency more than TTU,” Scott said.
“I’m confident that our girls will be able to play the standard of netball that they have been playing but I’m not too sure how Glengarry have been going over the course of the season.”
Rosedale goal keeper Tayler Brouns is expected to miss this weekend’s game due to personal circumstances while Lorrell Lowe and Meagan Harrison are both likely to remain on court.
Lowe and Harrison have been grappling with niggling injuries, with the latter only playing a half against TTU on Saturday due to a foot injury.
“We’re just trying to maintain our players and make sure they don’t get any worse,” Scott said.
“We’ve got a few more things that we’re trying to tick off our list including tightening up our combinations on court but overall we’re going well.”
The Magpies sit ninth on the North Gippsland A grade ladder with only two wins this season and head into Saturday’s game after seven-goal loss to Gormandale.
Sale City v Gormandale
Gormandale coach Bronwyn Joyce described Saturday’s win as “absolutely inspirational” after the Tigers claimed their first win of the season against Glengarry.
Joyce said she was particularly impressed with Tayla Pendlebury who was called on from B grade to fill a key role in defence, a role which she is likely to keep for the remainder of the season.
“It was absolutely inspirational stuff, it was what the girls need and it really brought them together as a team, they wanted the win,” Joyce said.
“We had so much support from the club and that’s something A grade misses sometimes, given it’s at the end of the day but everyone was behind them.”
The Tigers will hit the road to Sale this weekend to play the Bulldogs in a 10th versus sixth contest.
Sale City head into the game after an 18-goal loss the Demons at Yarram.
“We’re heading to Sale on Saturday on a high and the girls are really pulling together that this is the start of the season, particularly given we’ve had our first win,” Joyce said.
“The girls will be on the training track tonight working on that transition down the court and free flow of the ball down the court and backing each other.”
Woodside v Yarram
Yarram have proven they are a serious finals contender with a 19-goal win against Sale City at home on Saturday, 67-49.
The Demons were up by three goals at half-time but managed to stack it on in the third and fourth quarters with a dominant display.
“Our talk and clicking it all together, everything we’re working on a treat and I guess that’s why we came away with the win,” Yarram coach Stacee Staley said.
“Hopefully we can get a win, Yarram A grade are yet to beat Woodside but they’ve only won two games so I reckon we’re a chance of getting them this time.
“Something we find is that they’re quite tall, but for us it’s a competitive local derby and we’re looking forward to it.
Yarram will hit the road to Woodside this weekend to take on the Wildcats in a third versus seventh local derby showdown.
The Wildcats head into the game after a four-goal loss to fourth-placed Cowwarr in round seven.
“If we can play how we’ve been playing, even though it’s at their court, I’m pretty confident we can beat them if we stick to our game plan,” Staley said.
“They have more experience, they’re an older team but we probably have more fitness so it’ll be a good contest.”
Cowwarr v Churchill
Compsure helped Cowwarr win against Woodside on Saturday, according to Saints coach Ebony Galea.
“I put it down to the girls keeping their composure, they kept their composure like they did against Sale City which got us over the line in both instances,” she said.
“We’re very pleased with the way the girls moved around the court multiple times into different positions and it really didn’t impact the flow of the game.”
In round eight the Saints will host Churchill who sit second and head into the game following a four-goal win over Heyfield on Saturday.
“We’re quite positive heading into the game, but we don’t know what to expect with the Churchill side,” Galea said.
Cowwarr sit fourth on the North Gippsland A grade ladder, with four wins and one draw under their belt.
TTU v Heyfield
Heyfield will hit the road to Traralgon this weekend after a close loss to Churchill at the weekend.
The Roos will take on Traralgon Tyers United who sit fifth after a 16-goal loss to Rosedale on Saturday.
Heyfield sit eighth with two wins while TTU have three wins and a draw heading into the game.
