MERBEIN’S impressive start to the SFNL A Grade netball season continued at their home Compound Accounting Park courts on Saturday with an emphatic 22-goal victory over in-form South Mildura.
The Magpies led at each break, but the victory was set up in the third period when they piled on 19 goals to seven to build a match-winning buffer of 19.
The hosts had winners all over the court, but the shooting duo of Emily Gray with 34 goals and Darcey Chilton netting 32 were extremely potent.
Coach and defender Johannah Gray and mid-courters Sophie Gray, Vanessa Rodi and Teagan Pettigrew were also their consistent selves as the Magpies moved up to second on the ladder with a 3-1 record – marginally ahead of Irymple on percentage and four points behind unbeaten powerhouse Wentworth.
South, coming off back-to-back victories, battled hard but could come up with no answers on the day and the loss saw them drop just outside of the top five with a 2-3 record.
Coach Tara Bate, wing attack Alyse Ross and wing defence Tayla Sellens battled hard and Sophie Fox, with 22 goals, was her usual lively self near the posts, but it wasn’t quite enough against the high-flying Pies.
The job for the Bulldogs gets no easier this week when they host Wentworth while Merbein stay at home to greet Red Cliffs.
