ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
NETBALL
By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
THE top four of the Gippsland League is almost set as Morwell, Moe, Leongatha, and Drouin showcased their dominance over the weekend.
Drouin asserted themselves as one of the top teams, smashing Bairnsdale by 24 goals.
Kelly Mills, Ella Henderson and Kym Diston were good in the win, while Olivia Betts, Sophie Bills and Danielle Johnson showed class for the Redlegs.
Moe too, overpowered their opponent, beating Wonthaggi 65 to 34.
Lion’s superstar Ramayer Gourley showed her strength, shooting a whopping 45 goals.
Hollie Bugeja, Alex Moody and Gourley were among the best on court, while Power’s usual guns Jess Blair, Mia Plenkovich and Chelsea Bowman were noted in the loss.
Leongatha was able to dominate Warragul.
The Parrots welcomed the Gulls to their home deck, but it was always going to be an uphill battle for Warragul.
Leongatha managed to have a few goals buffer at each break, which allowed them to keep pressure high, rattling the Warragul side.
Lily Sheehan, Renee Cook and Naomi Allardyce were Warragul’s best, while Kate Browne, Lauren Redpath and Kayla Redpath starred for Leongatha.
Maffra got close but not close enough in the Battle of the Birds, as Sale took home a 58 to 47 win.
The Magpies got the jump over a slow-starting Eagles, who conceded a 10-goal lead in the first quarter. The game tightened in the second term, with the Eagles able to apply some pressure and win the quarter by one, but there was still nine goals to turn around at the halfway mark.
The Magpies stayed strong and would ultimately extend their lead in the last half.
Sale’s Dee Dee Lambert, Teagan Harrison and Isla McCarthy were exceptional in the win. Maffra’s best were Chelsea Allman, Chloe Proud and Ashleigh Keefe.
In the Sunday showdown, Morwell took care of Traralgon in a tight battle, winning 41 to 36.
Big games make for big moments, and this was definitely the game to watch.
Traralgon came out of the gates firing, stunning the Tigers with a four-goal lead at the first break. But, the experience of the Morwell side came through after quarter time, when they were able to get control back of the game.
The Maroons didn’t give up the fight, continuing to push the Tiger side to their limits.
Despite a last-quarter surge from Traralgon that had them right in the game, Morwell took home the chocolates in a win that showcased why they are the team to beat.
Traralgon’s Ashlyn Pavey, Cassidy Smith and Bronwyn Tebb were recognised as best on court.
Tanya Budge, Chloe Radford and Anna Solomon were brilliant for the Tigers.
THE North Gippsland netball table has once again shifted quite dramatically after some interesting results.
Sale City has now surged to the top after demolishing Yallourn Yallourn North 68 to 22.
The percentage-boosting game saw the Bulldogs jump ahead of Heyfield on the ladder.
Heyfield, despite losing top spot, would still be smiling after they defeated one of last years grand finalist, Rosedale in a very close game.
It was a tight battle between the Kangaroos and Blues, with constant momentum shifts and surges, it sure was a contest. In the end it was Heyfield who controlled the ball more, winning 48 to 43.
Woodside returned to winning form after defeating Churchill 38 to 57.
It wasn’t a good day for the Cougars, but it sure was for the Wildcats, who won a clean sweep in the netball.
Playing-coach and three-time Victorian Netball League Hotshot (most goals) award recipient Libby Nicol made her return back to the Woodside team, which undoubtedly helped the Wildcats dominate the shooting end and the game.
Glengarry made light work of Yarram, defeating the Demons 63 to 36, while Traralgon Tyers United was able to overpower Cowwarr, winning 59 to 47.
Gormandale had the bye.
IN Round 10 of Mid Gippsland results went largely as expected.
The closest match was between Morwell East and Boolarra, with the Hawks winning by 11.
Meeniyan Dumbalk United was too strong for Newborough, as was Yinnar over Hill End.
Fish Creek had the better of Mirboo North, while South Gippsland clubs Stony Creek and Toora also saluted.
GIPPSLAND League has the bye this weekend, and will return Saturday, July 8.
Morwell goes into the break on top of the ladder, and looks primed for another shot at the title.
IN Round 11 of the Mid Gippsland season, spectators are blessed with another good battle between first-place Yinnar and second-place Morwell East.
The Hawks have been hot to touch this season, and will prove to be a formidable opponent to the traditional netball powerhouse in Yinnar.
The two playing-coaches in Yinnar’s Skye McDonald and Morwell East’s Madison Burney will play directly on each other in GA and GD. The pair will give spectators a fiery battle that will dictate the course of the game. This match is hard to tip, but based on experience and tradition, Yinnar might just get over the line.
Toora and Boolarra are also tipped to put on a competitive match at Toora Recreation Reserve. Boolarra has stunned the competition this year and will be ready to take on the reigning premier. It might well be the Demons that hand Toora their first loss of the season.
In other games, Hill End will play Fish Creek, Foster goes head-to-head with Newborough, Tarwin takes on Stony Creek, and Meeniyan Dumbalk United and Mirboo North have the bye.
AS North Gippsland heads into Round 12 of the season, the race for top spot could not get any tighter.
The game of the round will be when the fifth-placed Glengarry plays the sixth-placed, Rosedale. The Blues are coming off a devastating loss to Heyfield, and are still on the hunt to prove themselves and get back to Grand Final form. The Magpies have had a hot start to the season but remain inconsistent in beating quality sides, so this one may go down to the wire.
Churchill will look to redeem themselves after two losses in a row.
The Cougars will be on a mission to get back on the winners list, and will fancy their chances playing a Yarram side who has managed only one win all season.
Woodside gets to play Yallourn Yallourn North in what will be a good game to get some of those Wildcat developmental players out on the court.
The Jets have yet to showcase any competitiveness this year, and given Woodside’s recent win against Churchill, you can see this result turning ugly here.
Traralgon Tyers United has one of the biggest challenges in facing top-ranked Sale City.
The TTU team will have to bring everything and the kitchen sink to get over the bulldozing Bulldog’s side.
Cowwarr and Gormandale face off in a bid to add one more win to their three wins each this season.
Both teams have found wins hard to come by all year, so best believe the Saints and Tigers will battle it out to desperate for the four points.
Heyfield has the bye.
Safety first: Wintery conditions greeted players at Morwell on Sunday, so much so the court needed to be squeegeed during breaks.
