NETBALL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

MID Gippsland and North Gippsland netball was afforded a higher notice at the weekend, as the Gippsland League had a league-wide bye.

 

Mid Gippsland

SOME excellent games played out around Mid Gippsland, with very little separating the top sides to the ones knocking on the door of the top six (three wins is all that is between first and eighth on the ladder).

Morwell East defeated MDU 62-39 to bring about their fourth consecutive win to place them second on the ladder at a win-loss record of 8-1.

Better yet, the Hawks are equal-first alongside Fish Creek and Yinnar but only fall behind the Kangaroos due to percentage.

Dani Dunn put in 40 goals at Ronald Reserve alongside shooting partner Sukie Hodgson with 22, which was more than enough to combat Alahna Arnason and Lillyca White (22 and 17 goals respectively).

Depite the result, MDU remains only a game back of the top crop of teams just mentioned and will have another strong challenge when they host Mirboo North (fifth place) this weekend.

Foster surprised everyone, defeating Yinnar 46-41.

The Magpies found the early momentum, up 11 to eight at quarter time at the Foster Showgrounds, before a dead-even second term ended 20-all after Foster’s Brylee Angwin put in two final shots to tie it up heading into the break.

Nothing would separate the two sides again as it headed into the last 15 minutes of play.

Foster found their groove through the middle of the last quarter with a 12-5 run to begin final proceedings that gave them the distance needed to hold onto the win.

Angwin (Foster) and Skye McDonald (Yinnar) couldn’t be separated with 28 goals each, while Ella Rendell (Foster) shot 18 goals and Claire Thorburn (Yinnar) 13.

Foster created a two-game gap at sixth while Yinnar succumbed to their first loss in eight weeks.

Newborough outdid Toora, 47-38.

The two evenly-matched teams (both pushing to break into the top six) battled it out supremely through two quarters at Toora, which concluded with the Bulldogs ahead 22-20.

The Magpies burst out of the second half, going on a 9-1 run before coming to three quarter time up three goals and outscoring their opponents 15-10.

It appeared Newborough had already run out of gas and Toora were transfixed on a significant finish to the game, limiting the Bulldogs to just five goals for the concluding quarter as they notched 12.

Toora’s Hannah Weston was a difference-maker with 32 goals while Demi Caldow offered all that she could with 25 goals for the Bulldogs.

Mirboo North at home made quick work of Tarwin, winning 63 to 35 for their sixth victory of the year to sit in fifth-place.

Tarwin, still without a win to their name, sit second-bottom to Thorpdale.

Fish Creek did a number on Stony Creek, 64-26 at the Stony Racecourse.

The seismic win gives the Kangaroos the added percentage to sit atop the ladder ahead of Morwell East and Yinnar.

Stony Creek remain at 2-8 on the year to sit lowest of the sides to record a win this season.

Boolarra and Thorpdale had the bye.

 

North Gippsland

ROUND 12 showcased some closer matches that brought a higher level of intensity and focus to the table for sides battling it out at the top of ladder for spots in play beyond regular season action.

Sale City continued their unblemished run, defeating Cowwarr 50-38 at Cowwarr.

The Bulldogs will now prepare for an all-out clash against fellow top-four team, Woodside this weekend.

Cowwarr, who still put up a valiant effort against the clear favourites, sit with a win-loss record of 3-8, but could be right back on the winner’s list in due time with a game against similar-placed Yallourn Yalloutn North next round.

Heyfield edged past Rosedale 42-40.

The result kept the Kangaroos in third position on the ladder and avoided an unwanted two week winless stretch after losing to Woodside the week before.

Rosedale could have had one of their best wins of the season at home and potentially jumped Traralgon Tyers United for fifth-place with an alternative result, but will have to make do with sixth on the ladder for the time being.

Glengarry had no problem with Gormandale, winning 59-37 at home.

The Magpies are making their second half push for finals, sitting just a game back of TTU for fifth alongside Rosedale.

The Magpies have had two comfortable wins against Gormandale and Yarram in recent weeks, but will now face a much tougher challenge in Heyfield coming up.

Gormandale has only won a single win for the year and sit second-bottom on the ladder.

Woodside was too good for TTU, coming out 55-42 winners on their home court.

The Wildcats hold onto a top four position on the ladder and momentarily avoid the clutter of sides battling it out for the remaining spots in the finals.

TTU, at 6-5 for the year, will now prepare for a fiery contest against Rosedale that could see some shifts on the ladder.

Churchill dismantled Yarram, 84-23, bringing the Cougars to a record of 9-1 on their season for second-place on the ladder. Churchill has now won seven games in a row, most definitely as the clear contender to the top-ranked Sale City outfit.

Yarram continue a winless season but will be rested with a week off this weekend.

YYN had the bye.