NETBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND
A battle of the fittest will determine who will remain in fifth spot on the North Gippsland A grade ladder when Traralgon Tyers United face Sale City on Sautrday.
Rosedale remain atop the league ladder with a 10-point lead, behind Cowwarr and Churchill in second and third, while Yarram and Sale City round out the top five.
The Bombers sit outside the five, two points behind fifth-placed Sale City, who have shown promising signs this season and remain within finals reach.
TTU coach Jennifer Duncan said she felt positive heading into round 11 against the Bulldogs, despite playing at Sale.
“Will be another tough game and hopefully we can make amends for our loss earlier in the season to come away with a win,” Duncan said.
“After a win last week against Glengarry in the Pride round girls are feeling positive and ready to press forward in the second half of the season.
“We lost a player due to a knee injury, but are confident with the players we have remaining in A along with bench players from other grades we can still keep moving forward and climbing back up the ladder.”
The Bulldogs return home after a five-goal win over Heyfield while the Bombers took a six-goal win over Glengarry in round 10.
Woodside v Heyfield
Wildcats coach Kristy Lucas has flagged shutting down Heyfield’s fast midcourt as the only way to win on Saturday.
Woodside sit seventh and head into the round 11 clash after a 12-goal loss to Rosedale on the road last weekend.
The game will coincide with the Footprints Foundation round, raising money for the organisation which provides a support mechanism for local women and their families undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
“[We] will be looking to bounce back from our loss to Rosedale. Both Woodside and Heyfield need the win this weekend to hold onto a finals chance,” Lucas said.
“We’ll be looking for a solid performance from defenders Jacqui Irving and Georgie Banik to get the team across the line [but] see Heyfield’s fast midcourt and accurate goalers as the challenge to beat in the match ahead.”
Heyfield sit eighth and are equal on points with seventh-placed Woodside.
Yarram v Gormandale
Yarram “should win” against Gormandale, according to Demons coach Stacee Staley, who said her side was confident heading into the game this weekend.
“We won against them last time, so we’re pretty confident about this game because we should be able to get a winning streak happening again,” Staley said.
“We’ve been trying to regroup this week after coming off a few losses in the last couple of rounds.”
The Demons sit fourth and remain equal on points with fifth-placed Sale City, while Gormandale linger last with one win under their belt this season.
“We’re working hard at training, trying new ideas and just trying to make the team more versatile so we can adapt to play on taller players,” Staley said.
“We really want to win the games we’ve won in the first half and we’re very confident we’ll make finals.”
Cowwarr v Rosedale
Cowwarr coach Ebony Galea has great expectations ahead of Saturday’s game against ladder leader Rosedale, after destroying Gormandale by 25-goals at the weekend.
The first-versus-second clash will be a must watch for passionate North Gippsland netball followers, however, Rosedale will remain on top regardless of the score with a 10-point lead on the ladder.
“Last time we met Rosedale it was sour weather, heavy rain and it really impacted the way my side played,” Galea said.
“So going into Saturday’s game we have great expectations because our team is playing so well together.”
The Blues also head into the game with decent form after walking away 12-goal victors over Woodside at the weekend.
However, Galea said the focus for her side would be maintaining the Saints’ position on the ladder for the remainder of the season.
“The team impresses me each week with their composure and the way they stick to their game,” she said.
“The team has had no injuries this season, touch wood, so far and there’s been no major changes to the side.”
Glengarry v Churchill
Glengarry is on the hunt for their third win and will look to improve on their form when they host Churchill on Saturday.
The Magpies head into the game with a day less to recover after playing in the Gippsland Pride Cup on Sunday.
But the Cougars have been in reasonable form of late, including a 16-goal win against Yarram at the weekend.
Glengarry linger at ninth on the North Gippsland A grade ladder, while Churchill sit at third only two points behind second-placed Cowwarr.
