NETBALL

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

NO Gippsland League at the weekend brought further attention to the surrounding netball leagues that make up the Latrobe Valley.

Round 13 in each of Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland totalled in a grand display of what the best of the wider netball community has to offer.

 

Mid Gippsland

WHILE ladder disparity matchups were in place in Mid Gippsland, anticipation still surrounds who’s going to make up the top six by the end of the home-and-away season.

Newborough got a necessary win to keep their season alive, defeating Morwell East (who sit a slot behind them on the ladder), 59 to 50 at Northern Reserve.

All tied up after the first quarter, the Bulldogs broke away to lead 30-25 at the main break.

That margin was only bolstered due to a 15-7 third quarter that gave Newborough a seven-goal lead at the final turn, for which they held onto and went even further ahead.

Demi Caldow was a beast at the post, producing a 42-goal performance, supported by Caitlin Demczuk with 17.

Myah Healey gave her best for the Hawks with a 38-goal outing.

The Buldogs currently sit two games back from sixth-place on the ladder, and snapped a five-game losing streak in the process.

Mirboo North was too strong for Thorpdale, winning 76-26 at Thorpdale Recreation Reserve.

While the Blues still search for that illusive first win of the season, the Tigers keep themselves marked as the best of the rest, currently sitting fourth on the ladder with a win-loss record of 8-4.

Toora held onto sixth spot and remain in the finals window thanks to a 56-36 win over Boolarra at Toora Recreation Reserve.

The Magpies only held a marginal lead after the first quarter of four goals, and the Demons kept it close until halftime, with the scoreboard reading 25-20.

Toora then blew the game out of the water with an 18-goal third quarter while Boolarra was left behind the rest of the way home.

Hill End was unable to keep close against Stony Creek, succumbing 60-34 at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve.

The game was lost to the Rovers due to a 17-6 first quarter outing by the Lions, which made it hard for the home side to fight back.

Other results included Fish Creek defeating Tarwin, 65-41 at Terrill Park, and Foster continuing their unbeaten streak with a 75-51 win over Meeniyan Dumbalk United at Foster Recreation Reserve.

The Tigers sit top of the ladder in both football and netball as it currently stands.

Yinnar had the bye.

 

North Gippsland

A SHIFT in North Gippsland’s hierarchy seems to be taking place.

After dominant seasons in each of the last two years, Sale City has begun to plateau in the backend of 2025.

In a Grand Final rematch, in which Heyfield still sit outside of the top five, the Kangaroos handed the reigning premier their second straight loss of the season in a 46-36 outing at Gordon Street Reserve.

After a back-and-forth first quarter, Heyfield began to break away momentarily through to halftime, leading 21-18.

Separation became evident as play returned, with the Kangaroos opening up the margin by eight goals at the last turn, which was sustained.

Phoebe Richardson (29 goals) and Chloe Smith (16) played a big part in Heyfield’s best performance of the season thus far.

The win could set up the Kangaroos in the final stretch of the season, who have undergone an inconsistent campaign to date.

The result now moves Sale City into fourth position, and two games back from top-placed Churchill.

Speaking of, the Cougars raised the bar with a dominant performance over Cowwarr, 69-15 at Cowwarr Recreation Reserve.

Churchill produced their eighth win of the season, and separated from the rest of the competition in convincing fashion, keeping the Saints to just seven goals throughout the first half.

Cowwarr only added eight more scores the rest of the way, while the Cougars compiled a 28-goal second term.

After a two-week spell early in the season in which they held a win-loss record of 3-2, Churchill has run wild since with five wins on the trot.

Gormandale continue to be the welcome surprise of the season, defeating Yallourn Yallourn North, 60-45 at Gormandale Recreation Reserve.

The Jets gave the Tigers a fright out of the gate, leading 16-12 after the first quarter, but the home side got back on track to lead by five goals at halftime.

While limiting YYN’s scoring output to just seven goals in the third term, Gormandale added 14 to extend their lead to over double digits, for which they never looked back.

Maddy Dark continued her dominant season for the Tigers, currently siting 110 goals clear for the goal shooting award, adding 50 on this occasion.

Woodside kept themselves in the hunt for the minor premiership alongside the Tigers and the Cougars, defeating Rosedale, 47-33 at Woodside Recreation Reserve.

Caitlan Johnson added 29 goals for the winners, alongside Maddison McAlphine (18) to see through a pivotal victory.

Glengarry and Traralgon Tyers United had the bye.