NETBALL
BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
FINALS action arrived at the weekend for at least two local netball leagues.
North Gippsland and Mid Gippsland both commenced its postseasons with a bang with some impressive matchups.
Churchill booked a date with Traralgon Tyers United this Saturday after moving past Sale City by three goals at Cowwarr Recreational Reserve.
The reigning premier nailed the first punch not even a minute in through Skye McDonald, with the Cougars sending waves of pressure at the Bulldogs to open.
After a few misses Charlotte Ronchi evened the ledger up and then extended to a lead for Sale City.
An opening 3-1 lead for the Bulldogs was reversed quickly, as Churchill’s Cassandra Wass locked in with five of the next six goals.
Sale City was held scoreless throughout that stretch, and eventually found themselves in a five-goal hole come quarter time.
Ronchi opened the second term with consecutive goals for the Bulldogs, off the back of tough defensive work at the opposite end.
The intensity had lifted in bunches Sale City’s way, going on a 7-1 scoring run to leap into the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game.
Churchill subdued some of the pressure its way with a short burst of five goals, but Ronchi and Madeleine Rodwell quickly responded to remain in touch, down by a single goal.
Just as it seemed Sale City was in control as halftime was coming, the Cougars broke the game apart again with five unanswered goals to lead by as much at the main break.
While the Bulldogs knew it needed to lift in returning, Churchill was not about to give them signs of hope, dishing out the first four goals of the third quarter to extend the margin out to nine goals.
That initial disappointment didn’t stop the Bulldogs, continuing to score as much as possible to cut the deficit to five goals.
The margin hovered similarly through to the first five minutes of the final term, followed by Rodwell scoring on three straight possessions to dint that further.
However, it proved too much given the space of time remaining, with Wass putting the result in the books with successive goals.
Wass ultimately finished with 24 goals on the game, with support from McDonald with 14.
Rodwell (19 goals) and Ronchi (16) combined for Sale City’s total score.
The Bulldogs will now take on Woodside after the Wildcats took down Gormandale in the elimination final, 50 to 39, on Sunday at Glengarry Recreation Reserve.
Woodside shot out of the gates, blitzing the Tigers by six goals in the opening term.
The second quarter heated up, between two teams who throughout the season had proven to be up there with the three sides above them on the ladder, as Gormandale rallied.
The Wildcats extended its first quarter lead to begin with, out to 11 goals in the opening minutes of the following term, before the Tigers decided to play.
Gormandale’s Maddy Dark poured in five goals in quick succession, as a part of a 6-1 run from the Tigers to claw to a six goal deficit.
That score remained the same through to halftime, with Woodside in front, 27-21.
The Wildcats again began strongly, bumping its lead to eight goals in the first few minutes of the third.
Gormandale again proved they were better than how they were playing, scoring six unanswered goals to bring the margin back to just two points by the final break in play.
All its energy to get back within striking distance had taken its toll, with Woodside running over the top of the Tigers in the finish.
Kim Wright was a dominant force at the post with 42 goals for the Wildcats, combatting the effort of Dark with 25.
A QUARTET of South Gippsland clubs featured in the opening week of Mid Gippsland finals.
On Saturday, Fish Creek kept its premiership hopes alive with a 54-27 win over Tarwin at Mirboo North Recreation Reserve.
Jessica Edgar and Audrey McGannon combined greatly, with 27 and 24 goals respectively for the Kangaroos, to see them through to play Mirboo North in the first semi-final.
That matchup is off the back of the Tigers defeating reigning A Grade premier Meeniyan Dumbalk United on Sunday at Willow Grove Recreation Reserve by three goals.
Mirboo North completed a brilliant comeback after trailing by nine goals at the end of the first quarter.
The Tigers quickly responded by putting up 19 goals in the second term alone to reverse fortunes immediately and take a three goal lead at halftime.
The damage of coughing up a lead in such a short amount of time seemed to have worn on the Demons, but one quarter still remained with Mirboo North leading by five goals.
Alahna Arnason got to work with the first three goals of the final term for MDU, only for Jessica Holland to respond for the Tigers.
Despite a hard fought effort from the Demons in the last quarter, Mirboo North held off a last minute collapse of their own.
Top-placed sides Foster and Yinnar will play this Saturday (August 29) at Tarwin Lower Recreation Reserve for a spot in the grand final.
IN the final home-and-away round of the Gippsland League, all spots in the top five were already locked in, only the order it would take.
Moe claimed the minor premiership with a 70-24 demolition of Sale at Ted Summerton Reserve.
Sitting only two points ahead of Drouin in second place, the reigning back-to-back-to-back A Grade premier now gets a week off.
The Hawks meanwhile defeated fellow finalist Leongatha, 62-46 at Drouin Recreation Reserve.
Drouin will take on Bairnsdale, who bested Maffra in the last round by 12 goals, this Saturday at Ted Summerton Reserve.
Morwell finished its season off with a win over wooden spooners Warragul by four goals at Morwell Recreation Reserve.
Traralgon was unable to do the same against Wonthaggi, losing by seven goals at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve.
The Power, finishing fifth on the ladder, take on fellow South Gippsland club Leongatha in the elimination final this Sunday at Drouin Recreation Reserve.
