HOLDING unbeaten and unbackable A Grade favourites Wentworth to 58 goals is something of an achievement.
However, when only 33 are scored at the other end in warm, near-perfect conditions, it really doesn’t count for all that much.
The Roos had averaged 63 goals per game this season and have set a team target of at least 15 each quarter.
Irymple, at their Henshilwood Oval courts, held the defending champs to stanzas of 14, 15, 14 and 15 in a more than solid effort at the back, but Wenty were way, way more frugal.
The Swallows started strong but as is the regular course of events against the red, white and blue, the visitors fought back for a five-goal lead at the first break.
They then increased that margin from term to term and only conceded 13 in the final half, as Irymple sought answers to a riddle that has confounded all teams in the league this season.
“I think we learnt today we can’t afford to switch off, and have to play four solid quarters of netball,” Irymple coach Sherrie Geister said.
“We also need to adapt to their style of play … it was a physical game, and everyone will benefit from watching the video.
“We just have to eliminate those little brain fades but I still think we can give it (the title) a real good crack.”
Her third-placed team has a final-round bye before a qualifying final against Mildura the following week at the same venue.
“The finals are a different ball game,” she said.
“(Wentworth) do keep winning a lot but one day they are not going to win, won’t they?”
Wentworth coach Amanda Edwards was pleased with her team’s performance heading into a final-round encounter against Robinvale Euston, before a well-earned week off as minor premiers.
“We expected them to come out and be really solid,” she said.
“They are a great team and they brought it to us in that first quarter.
“We know we have a huge target on our back, but I am happy with how we were able to push on.
“It was a great defensive win and to keep a top-three side to 33 goals is just huge. It was a full team effort today defensively … from goal shooter all the way down the court. That building of pressure I thought really wore them down.”
As per usual, any number of Roos could have been named in the best two. This round, the honours went to goal keeper Natalie Vercher and captain-centre Ashlee Cameron.
– Tym Glaser
Kangas set high score
OUYEN United are locked in for another A Grade finals series with a dominant 83-28 victory against Imperials.
Eighty-three is the greatest score notched up this season by any side as the Kangas controlled the ball with their standard class and methodical teamwork.
The 55-goal margin was also the largest win of any team this season.
Maggie Smith was sensational for Ouyen United, scoring 52 goals in just three quarters in attack. The Kangas tried a few different combinations, including Smith in defence, as they prepare for a home final against South Mildura.
Coach Kyra Nathan said it was a good win.
“It was a nicely contested game,” she said. Imps were fair and never dropped their heads.
“It was a good opportunity for us to look at a few options and it was great to have Maggie available too. We worked on some combinations with her in and she killed it.”
Nathan often refers to combinations and she has the luxury of having many versatile players at her disposal to utilise in them.
“We have two talls in Casey (Crothers) and Maggie that we can swing between attack and defence, which is nice to have,” she said.
“We will work on consolidating those combinations and making sure our basics are intact before finals.”
Ouyen United’s best were Smith and Megan Jardine, who was tenacious in the midcourt.
For Imperials, Tracey Sherlock was their best in centre, while Alison Walker shot 24 goals as Imperials had a host of players missing, which was undoubtedly a factor in the result.
– Nic Vine
Demons tune up for finals
ALTHOUGH finals are not a possibly for Robinvale Euston, they were competitive in their match against league heavyweights Mildura, going down 66-44.
The Eagles showed improvement compared to their round 8 loss to the Demons, in which they had a 28-goal deficit.
The win keeps the Demons in the top two heading into the final round of the home-and-away season and puts them in good stead heading into the finals series in two weeks’ time.
Demons captain and midcourter Ally Leng put on another stellar performance during the match, while Sharon Watson was also named as one of the best on court.
For the Eagles, Ana Filimore was a standout, as was defender Shakira Hingano.
Sitting in eighth on the ladder, the Eagles will have a tough final round ahead of them, taking on ladder leaders Wentworth on their home court.
The Demons should be able to finish their home-and-away season on a high against Red Cliffs next round before heading into finals.
– Phoebe Doyle
Dogs bite as Tigers improve
DESPITE going down by eight goals to South Mildura on Saturday, Red Cliffs coach Romany Bowen described the game as “our best of the season”.
The 57-49 game in the Bulldogs’ favour was the Tigers’ highest-scoring game of the season, with Bowen saying the game was “awesome” for both teams.
“It was awesome to coach strategically, and it was awesome to watch too,” she said.
“I know it was a loss, but we still sort of sat there, and I was even talking to the opposition afterwards just trying to find where we went wrong because both teams just played equally well, it just came down to a couple of little turnovers and that made the difference.”
Although finals is out of the question for the wooden spooners, Bowen was pleased with her team’s performance this season, and particularly the improvement seen in the second half of the season.
“People are underestimating us, and we’re happy to be the underdog, we are just going about doing our thing,” she said.
“If we were in finals, I would say we are coming at the right time, but it is still good – the girls are pumped, they are looking forward to next season, and it is a really good vibe at the moment.”
Tigers shooters Zara Copley and Jazmin Parker were named as the side’s best on court, combining well in the ring under intense conditions.
South Mildura’s best performers were Amy Lutze and Alyse Ross.
With their finals position secured, the Bulldogs will go into the final round of the home-and-away season with some confidence against Imperials, while Red Cliffs will be looking to keep up their good form against Mildura.
– Phoebe Doyle
