NETBALL
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
Gippsland League
GIPPSLAND League netball returned at the weekend following the league-wide bye.
An undefeated Moe obliterated Traralgon in a 67 to 33 affair that moved the Lions two games clear of second-placed Drouin on the ladder.
The Maroons have managed a formidable season so far, but the gap from first to fourth alone has already been shown to be quite severe.
The Lions again finished strong, holding Traralgon to just five goals in the last quarter to take their percentage to 172.
Ramayer Gourley continued a stellar season for Moe with 45 goals, while Georgia Moody shot 22.
Grace Van Tillburg and Hannah Smith had 15 and 14 goals each for the Maroons.
The match was moved indoors at Ted Summerton Reserve due to puddles of water on the court.
Traralgon narrowly hold onto fourth position despite the loss, with Wonthaggi and Bairnsdale tied with them on seven wins.
Drouin look the real deal after another impressive win, this time defeating Morwell 47-37.
It was a narrow lead early on and both sides lifted their intensity to conclude the first half. The Hawks however look to be in their best shape, and at the appropriate time, as they still managed to outscore the Tigers in all four quarters.
Charlize Traumanis had 26 goals along with 17 from Stacie Gardiner for the hometown Hawks, while Tiffany Boatman and Isabella Bettridge had 21 and 16 goals respectively for Morwell.
Drouin remain a game above Warragul in third and Morwell surely will be looking to next season now, as they are four games back from the top five with a win-loss record of 3-9-1.
Warragul defeated Sale 65-38 at Western Park to create a top three that looks certain not to be challenged.
The Gulls’ Emma Ryde took her opportunities at every turn with a 53-goal game to combat 31 goals from Sale’s Kate Van der Voort.
Wonthaggi moved past Leongatha in a close 56-53 finish that slots the Power into the top five.
After creating a comfortable lead early, 15-9 after the first quarter, the Parrots bounced back to chop the visitors lead to just a goal by halftime.
Wonthaggi then jumped at a chance to climb into finals contention to move four goals ahead by three quarter time, and held on against a respectable opponent.
Mikaeli Hilliar and Kate Browne combined for all but one goal of the Parrots score (34 and 18 goals each) against the one-two punch of Chelsea Bowman (38 goals) and Courtney Brann (18 goals) for the Power.
Bairnsdale finished off the round tearing apart a winless Maffra, 74-34 to keep their finals chances well and truly alive.
The Eagles held firm early, notching 13 goals to the Redlegs 18, but the potential top-five side then poured in 56 goals the rest of the way as Maffra submitted two quarters with just three and four goals entirely.
The Redlegs are currently 7-6 on the win-loss, tied with Wonthaggi and Traralgon for fifth position on the ladder.
Mid Gippsland
ROUND 13 of Mid Gippsland netball showcased a spectacular top six matchup, but also relatively expected results.
Mirboo North completed a gutsy away win against finals rival MDU, 48 to 46.
It was back-and-forth across the entire match with little separating either side from start to finish. The Demons looked certain to secure their top four placement, up 44-40 with few minutes remaining.
Mirboo North’s Jessica Holland then turned it on and scored each of the Tigers’ final eight final quarter goals, all unanswered to take home a spectacular victory.
Mirboo North’s Marley Wallace scored 29 goals. Wallace had a total of 15 and Rachael Vansittart had four goals to withstand the efforts of MDU’s Alahna Arnason and Lillyca White with 25 and 21 goals respectively.
Morwell East defeated Boolarra 60-31 at the weekend to remain second on the ladder.
After a narrow 15-11 lead at quarter time, the visiting Hawks outscored the Demons 45-20 the rest of the way to give themselves a percentage booster.
The scoring dominance of Sukie Hodgson and Tayla Watson with 35 and 25 goals respectively was more than enough, but Boolarra did have an even split with double digit goals from Rahni Wissmer, Tessa Jewell and Jaclyn Price.
Morwell East continue to solidify a top-two finish by the end of the season as they battle with Fish Creek and Yinnar at the pinnacle of the ladder.
Boolarra now move three games back of the top six.
Tarwin blew away Thorpdale, 56-36 in the battle at the bottom.
The Sharks collected their first win of the season with a defining performance from Kate McCracken, who almost outscored everyone with 35 goals.
The visiting Blues had great play from Maggie Blackman and Madison Wright with 20 and 16 goals each, but still remain winless on the year.
Yinnar dominated Stony Creek to the tune of 41 goals, winning 61 to 20.
The third-placed Magpies did all that was necessary after a 24 to 10 start up to halftime, and then piled on 20 and 17 goals in each of the last two quarters at home.
Yinnar’s Sky McDonald poured in 47 goals to break the game apart, along with 11 goals from Claire Thorburn.
Fish Creek got the job done against Toora, 50 to 41 at home to hold onto top spot on the ladder.
After only leading by a goal at quarter time, the Kangaroos managed to separate themselves by six goals through the next two quarters, and the Magpies couldn’t make up for it.
Foster and Newborough had the bye.
North Gippsland
FROM top to bottom, every club must be aware of how little remains in the home-and-away season, and pundits were treated to a Round 13 of North Gippsland netball that had close calls for all but one game.
Heyfield and Glengarry drew 42-all.
The Roogirls were fighting to remain in close range of a top two finish come season’s end, but a stalemate brought the blue and white closer to Woodside in fourth for the time being.
Heyfield will have a chance to redeem this result with a showdown against second-placed Churchill.
Glengarry, coming off a few strong performances against lower-ranked sides, acted on their recent form and took points away from home.
The Magpies now sit just a game back of fifth behind TTU and Rosedale.
Sale City kept rolling on as they took down Woodside in a 43-41 affair at Stephenson Park.
The Bulldogs have ran through their first 11 games without a single blemish against each of the sides in the competition… except for their biggest challenger, Churchill who they will eventually play in Round 16.
Rosedale bounced back from a short lapse against Heyfield and defeated TTU in Tyers, 46-41.
The result evens things up for both sides siting at a win-loss record of 6-6, but TTU hold fifth position thanks to percentage.
YYN secured their third win of the season in a rousing one-goal victory against Cowwarr, 37-36.
The win moved the Jets two points above their weekend opponents into eighth, and as for the Saints, it was their fourth loss in a row.
Churchill pumped Gormandale 69-32.
Yarram had the bye.
