NETBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
Defending premiers Traralgon were back to the form at the weekend that saw them claim the 2017 flag and are primed for their round 12 clash with Sale.
Maroons coach Caitlan Ponton cited the inclusions of premiership players Taylin Gourley and Maddie Stockdale as key in her side finding its groove before Saturday’s game.
“We’ve been playing with four A graders for the last few weeks and I was really pleased that we ran out four quarters because against Bairnsdale we did not do that,” Ponton said.
Traralgon were convincing winners in their round three encounter with Sale, 66-27.
Despite the rematch shaping as somewhat of a mismatch, Ponton said the Maroons would give the Magpies due respect this weekend.
“Last time they were quite competitive and we won by [33] but it really didn’t feel like that,” she said.
“We’re not taking it lightly and going in as if we haven’t played them yet we know its going to be quite tough.”
Defender and 2017 premiership player Ramayer Gourley is still missing for the Maroons and has osteitis pubis while fellow premiership player Kate French will come back from a knee injury either this week or next.
Moe v Warragul
Moe coach Peter Moody is looking to his young Lions to back up “a pretty solid win” in round 11 with another one against Warragul this weekend.
“The game was played in fairly difficult conditions but I was really pleased with how the girls went about it and they backed it up exactly how I wanted,” Moody said.
The Lions disposed of Sale with ease at the weekend to sew up second spot on the Gippsland league A grade ladder.
Under 17 player Patty McInnes stepped up to fill the position of goal shooter in the absence of Bella Hodgson and held her own against a formidable Sale defence with the help of goal attack Georgia Moody.
“It was a good opportunity for us to blood Patty [McInnes] and it was a good introduction for her – it was quite physical,” Moody said.
“Georgia [Moody] is in good form and Patty came off and said she learnt a lot.”
Against Warragul this weekend, Moody flagged Gulls defender Renee Cook as “quite possibly the best player in the competition” but maintained his young pride were up to the task.
“The side is quite settled at the moment. At this stage there’s no chance of anybody not being available in the coming weeks and they’re enjoying playing together,” he said.
“It was a strong argument for six out of the seven players on Saturday to be given awards. There’s not one standout player in the side at the moment and I think that’s where a lot of our strength comes from.”
Morwell v Leongatha
Ladder leaders Morwell were put to the test by Bairnsdale in round 11 but were too strong at the final whistle and came away with a three-goal win.
The Tigers have hit scintillating form and present a daunting task for eighth-placed Leongatha this weekend with just the one loss to date tarnishing their otherwise perfect 2018 run.
A run on home turf wasn’t enough for Leongatha to gain an edge over Traralgon, and they were no match for the defending premiers going down by 39 goals.
Drouin v Bairnsdale
Drouin travelled to Maffra and received a hostile reception from the Eagles’ A grade side which put up a valiant fight before falling three goals short to the 2017 grand finalists.
Bairnsdale were similarly tough in the face of a formidable opposition in league leaders’ Morwell in round 11 and were by no means outdone by the Tigers before being edged out by just six goals.
The Hawks sit in fourth position on the A grade ladder with the luxury of a game’s gap between them and Maffra in fifth.
Bairnsdale are in seventh spot with four wins for the season to date but can move inside the top five with a win this weekend.
Wonthaggi v Maffra
Wonthaggi were faced with the tough task of travelling to Warragul in round 11 and were outmuscled by the Gulls on their home turf to the tune of 17 goals.
Maffra showed plenty of promise in their home fixture against 2017 grand finalist Drouin on Saturday and went toe-to-toe with the Hawks before falling by three goals.
Finals are out of reach for the Power as far as season 2018 is concerned as they trail the pack in ninth spot on the A grade ladder but Maffra are in the mix and sit in fifth.
