NETBALL
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
Gippsland League
JUST six games remain in the home and away season for Gipplsand League netball, and it’s appearing as though it could be a battle between only two clear stand-outs once we hit the pointy end of the year.
Traralgon rescued an underwhelming performance against Warragul last round, beating Leongatha in Round 12, 43-37.
Through the first half, no separation was made between the two sides as they headed into the halftime break 21-all.
However, the Maroons would break free in the third term, outscoring the Parrots by six goals to give them their highest quarter score for the game with 14 goals.
The Parrots with their season on the line didn’t give in and battled to the end, but too big of a gap was made to begin the second half.
Traralgon’s Grace Van Tilburg led the way for the Maroons with 33 goals, followed by Cassidy Smith with nine goals, while Leongatha had heavy contributions from Mikaeli Hilliar (19 goals) and Kate Browne (13 goals).
Milly Murphy was a stand-out along with Indiana de Dios for Traralgon while Amber Walker, Emma Allman, and Jayde Hall stood tall for the Parrots.
Traralgon remain in fourth position on the ladder at a win-loss record of 7-4 while Leongatha stoop to 4-8 at on the year sitting seventh on the ladder.
Undefeated Moe had to work for their win in the latter stages against Morwell, winning 51-35.
The formidable Lions created a hefty lead through the opening two quarters, jumping out to a 31-15 lead after they held the Tigers to just five goals in the second term.
Morwell did show a certain level of fight through the last stretch of the match not suffering any further damage to conclude.
Ramayer Gourley again starred with 42 goals for Moe taking her season tally to 516 goals while Morwell’s Tiffany Boatman led with 24 goals for the Tigers.
Goal Keeper Emma Sculley was singled as best on the court followed by Macy Gardiner and Gourley, while Morwell had Hayley Stringer through the centre, Boatman and Claire Marks.
Moe remain two games clear of second-placed Drouin whereas Morwell are third-last on the ladder with only three wins for the year.
Warragul didn’t have it easy coming up against fifth-placed Wonthaggi at the weekend, however still won 52-44.
The Gulls found themselves evenly matched through a bulk of the match, but created enough of a gap through the first and third quarters to get by with the win.
Emma Ryde once again stood tall finishing with 51 of Warragul’s 52 goals, while the Power had Chelsea Bowman and Courtney Brann with 24 and 20 goals respectively.
Warragul’s opening half efforts keep them a game behind Drouin, and the Gulls still remain two wins ahead of Traralgon in third.
Wonthaggi stick to their normalities through the first 12 games of the season, winners of six of those matches, and sit tied with Bairnsdale for fifth position (ahead by percentage).
Drouin continue a stellar season moving past Bairnsdale, 57-37.
Stacie Gardiner and Karina Proctor led the show for the Hawks with 29 and 28 goals respectively making up all of the team’s total score while Sally Deller had 17 goals and Ruby Dunkley was best on court for the Redlegs.
Drouin collect their tenth win on the year to sit clear second on the ladder while Bairnsdale remain in the fight for a finals spot with Wonthaggi at sixth.
In the battle at the bottom, Sale defeated Maffra, 40-29 to give the Magpies their first win of the year.
In a back-and-forth first half, the Eagles found a comfortable 12 to six-goal lead at the first break before Sale rallied in the second term to tie it all up at halftime 19-all.
Maffra wouldn’t back up their first quarter efforts, however, being outscored 21 to ten in the last half.
Kate Van der Voort carried the scoring load for Sale with 34 goals as well as Kristy Glover dominating the centre for the Magpies.
Maffra’s Keisha Jackson and Chloe Felsbourg had 16 and 13 goals each for the Eagles.
The Gippsland League has its penultimate league-wide bye this weekend. Play will resume for Round 13 on July 13.
North Gippsland
NORTH Gippsland netball continues a similar trend seen across the entirety of the season, and results become clearer as we enter the second half of the home and away season.
The headlining sides remain supreme awaiting finals time where they’re all pitted against each other on the biggest stage.
Round 11 included Sale City moving past YYN on the Jets’ home court, 50-25, winning nine of their nine games across the first half of the season.
The Bulldogs appear sure-fire premiership favourites as they sit a top of the ladder.
YYN remain at a win-loss record of 2-7 including one draw against Gormandale in Round 8 placing them third-last on the ladder.
On their home court, Woodside put away the higher-placed Heyfield, 56-40.
In a surprising result between third and fourth on the ladder considering the margin in the end. Woodside now collect their seventh win on the year to clear TTU at fifth, while Heyfield remain on eight wins but hold position.
Speaking of, TTU travelled to Cowwarr and subsequently demolished the Saints, 67-27.
The Bombers remain in finals position at fifth at six wins, four losses while Cowwarr sit three games back off them at a win-loss record of 3-7 on the year.
Rosedale made quick work of Gormandale, 48-30, to keep the Blues in the hunt for finals.
Rosedale have won half of their games played this season, splitting for five wins of their ten games but still sit at sixth on their ladder narrowly behind TTU for fifth.
Gormandale have only one win on the year for second-last on the ladder with their only victory coming against the side that sit one spot below them in Yarram.
Finally, Glengarry got through an expected result against Yarram, 55-20.
The Magpies collect their fourth win on the year to sit clear seventh on the ladder and two wins behind TTU in fifth.
Yarram continue a sombre season making it halfway through the year not managing a win against any of the other ten sides in the competition.
Second-placed Churchill had the bye.
Mid Gippsland
WHILE results weren’t all that attractive in Round 11 of Mid Gippsland netball, we are beginning to see the competition fold into place in regards to who it is we expect to see when it matters most.
Yinnar had no problem dismantling Boolarra, 70-24, on their way to their sixth win in a row.
At each turn the Magpies were in full control and not slowing down despite gaining such a lead throughout, as they now move to 8-1 for the season, positioning themselves on the top of the ladder after nine games.
Sky McDonald and Claire Thorburn split the scoring load for the Magpies with 35 goals each, while Tessa Jewell top-scored for the Demons with 17 goals.
Boolarra now sit at a win-loss record of 4-6, but still only remain a win back of sixth spot for a finals berth by season’s end.
Mirboo North got on top of Thorpdale, 64-23, despite travelling over the hill.
Three of the Tigers players collected over 10 goals, including Rachael Vansittart (29 goals), Chloe Hogg (25 goals), and Marley Wallace (10 goals).
The Tigers regained sixth spot on the ladder over Newborough at 5-4 for the year, while Thorpdale remain winless through 10 games this season.
Morwell East had no problem with Tarwin, winning 57-26.
Thirty-three goals from Dani Dunn and 24 goals from Sukie Hodgson was enough to overcome the Sharks’ Kate McCracken with 20 goals.
The Eagles keep themselves in the heap of seven-win sides with Fish Creek and MDU making up the top four while Tarwin slip to a 0-9 record to start to the season.
Newborough completed their third win in five games after defeating Stony Creek at the weekend, 62-33.
After a tight first quarter ended eight goals to nine the way of the Lions, the Bulldogs would go onto outscore their opponent by 30 goals the rest of the way for their fifth win on the season.
Demi Caldow had an all-out performance with 37 goals and Caitlin Demczuk chipped in with 25 goals for Newborough.
Newborough continue to battle it out for one of those final spots in the top six, while Stony Creek sit a ways back with only two wins for the season and third last on the ladder.
Finally, Fish Creek defeated Foster, 54-34 to keep the Kangaroos in second position on the ladder.
Jessica Edgar top-scored for Fish Creek with 35 goals, whereas Brylee Angwin did all she could for the Tigers with 23 goals.
Foster still sit a game ahead of Mirboo North and Newborough for fifth at 6-4 for the year.
Toora had the bye.
