By netball writers SARAH BUCHECKER AND TYM GLASER
SFNL A Grade netball results:
Merbein 46 – Mildura 59
Irymple 36 – Ouyen United 29
Wentworth 75 – South Mildura 17
Imperials 39 – Robinvale Euston 25
Mildura’s Alexandra Leng. Picture: Sarah Buchecker
A POWERFUL third quarter from Mildura saw them fly ahead for a dominate win against Merbein at Kenny Park.
Scores remained close for the first half of the game until the Mildura shooting duo of Jess McNamara and Ellie Vincent powered ahead to increase their margin to 15 by the end of the third quarter.
Merbein defenders Johannah Gray and Sophie Kroehn applied heavy pressure in the final quarter to keep Mildura’s score down, but it was too little too late as the Demons defeated the Pies 46-59.
Imperials wing attack Laura Hayter, above, catches a pass in under the goal. Picture: Ben Gross
IMPERIALS recorded their first win of the season against a game Robinvale Euston side on their home court on Saturday.
After a first-round draw with Red Cliffs, Imps proved too strong for an improving Eagles team and emerged solid 39-25 victors.
In the low scoring encounter, under-sized defender Prue Maloney and Meg McManus were resolute in defence for the home side.
After the game Imperials coach Kym Mayne was happy to emerge with the four points after a kiss-your-sister type start to the A Grade season.
“The girls felt that was an improved game on last week and, to their credit, there were only two girls on that team that played together last year,” Mayne said.
“It’s now about keeping the wins going and not the other option,” she said looking forward.
“We’ve got lots to build on and lots of depth.”
Robinvale Euston, while slumping to 0-2, can take some solace from a scrappy performance after a 48-goal thumping at the hands of premiers Wentworth last week.
Maria Efstratiou was again among their best on court.
Ouyen United goal attack Esther Manley, above, lines up a shot. Picture: Meagan Verstappen
Match reports from the Irymple vs Ouyen United and Wentworth vs South Mildura games were unavailable Saturday night. We’ll have those online by Sunday evening and of course full coverage of all matches will be in Monday’s Sunraysia Daily.
SFNL SENIOR FOOTY WRAP: CLICK HERE
