NETBALL
VNL
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE Gippsland Stars were treated to its second matchday in the region, when hosting the Southern Saints in Round 3 of the Victorian Netball League at Warragul Leisure Centre at the weekend.
This followed the Stars’ VNL season opener at Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium, Traralgon as the second instalment of the Netball Victoria Gippsland Showcase.
The Championship squad made it a third straight close loss to begin the season, succumbing by two goals.
After coming off consecutive one-goal losses, the Stars were hungry to reverse their fortunes, especially again playing in front of a home crowd.
Unfortunately, a slow start ensued, with the Saints getting out to a quick four-goal lead before attacking pair Sam Silvester and assistant playing coach Stacie Gardiner began to score in bunches.
The Stars weren’t able to tick back into a lead, getting within a tie, and had to make do with a three-goal deficit at quarter time.
By the time the second quarter came around, Gardiner had exited the match due to an injury, thrusting young recruit Abby Williams into goal attack.
After much work to get back into the game, the Stars eventually hit the front with five minutes to spare in the first half.
Even more so, Silvester’s additional goals saw the score move ahead by two, before the Saints flicked the switch in an instant to leapfrog back ahead by halftime, thanks to a 4-1 run.
As play returned, Silvester continued to keep the Stars in the game, scoring all 14 goals for her side in the third quarter.
Facing a one-goal deficit with 15 minutes spare, the Stars looked down the barrel of yet another close affair.
Defensive anchors Jordan Pyle and Sally Deller maintained a strong presence for the Stars, thwarting the early attacks of the Saints to begin the final term.
Silvester and Williams then combined to thrust the Stars back into the lead, much to the delight of the home fans.
The Saints responded quickly, with three straight goals, to almost immediately secure a two-goal edge, before eventually extending it to four.
Williams worked hard to score consecutively for the Stars, and while she and Silvester scored late, by that point, the game had gone back-and-forth and the Saints held on to victory.
Silvester added a match-high 41 goals on 91 per cent shooting efficiency, while Williams was awarded player of the match, stepping into goal attack and scoring 11 goals.
While still not on the winner’s list, a result is bound to go the Stars’ way, opposing what has been seen in their first championship season when they routinely lost in bulk numbers.
ALSO falling closely, the Stars 23-and-Under side lost by five goals to the Saints earlier in the evening.
After some unfortunate results, the younger Stars were looking for a more consistent performance at Warragul.
They provided that, but a third quarter blip, which saw the Saints separate themselves from the Stars by nearly double figures, gave the visitors some cushion.
New Traralgon recruit and former Boolarra junior Lara Noblett added the first four goals of the final quarter for the Stars to move back within five goals.
Gormandale netballer Grace Van Tilburg joined in on the party with Noblett, but the Stars couldn’t make up enough ground late.
Noblett tallied a game-high 34 goals on 85 per cent shooting efficiency, followed by Van Tilburg with eight and Anna Mooney with seven.
Noblett’s new teammate at Traralgon, former Mirboo North A Grader Marley Wallace, was acknowledged as player of the match.
STARS supporters did see a win to begin the Warragul showcase, as Gippsland’s VNL Reserves added its third win through the first five games.
The reserves squad set their victory up with a 13-8 first quarter, giving the Stars enough separation to hold on, as they currently sit fifth on the ladder.
On a limited break, the Stars Championship and U23 sides play tonight (April 1) against Geelong Cougars at the State Netball Centre.
Following up from their victory, the reserves team played on Tuesday (March 31) against Geelong at the same venue after the Express went to print.
