Lions out to down Pies

CARDROSS, coming off a thrilling draw with ladder leaders Bambill last week, face another tough task in A Grade netball action today when they head to the Lake to meet number three side Werrimull.

This season’s surprise side sit second on the ladder with a 4-1-1 record and showed their challenge for this year’s title is legitimate with the 50-50 stalemate against the unbeaten table toppers.

Lions shooters Tamara Hamence and Georgia Leutner have been in outstanding form and should provide plenty of headaches for the Magpies’ defence while Bronte Burgess and Lily Thompson have also been solid performers.

The Magpies (3-2) had last week’s split round off so should be well rested and keen to close the points gap between the sides on the table.

Centre Erin Sell is consistently among Werrimull’s best along with Jolene Neyland, Maddison Maher and Chelsea Newey in what will also be a test for last year’s runners-up.

Premiers Nangiloc finally recorded their first win of the season last week against fellow battlers Gol Gol, but that brief ray of sunshine is likely to be dimmed when they host the table topping Saints.

Bambill have an extremely miserly defence led by Tessa Houkamau and Breigh Hammet and scoring has been a problem for the Demons despite the efforts of coach Ginine Sluiter, Amber King and Shayna Saunders.

An upset would not be entirely unexpected – just highly unlikely as Nangy are still unravelling a new lineup after last year’s late season heroics.

In the day’s other game, Gol Gol (1-5) entertain Meringur (2-3) with both teams struggling to find consistency and goals.

The Hawks managed only 30 in last week’s 15-goal loss at home to the Dees and need substantially more than that against a Kangaroos team clinging to fourth on the ladder.

Maka Clarke, Abbey Curran and All Stanborough were among Gol Gol’s best against Nangiloc, but they will need a lot more help against a rested Meringur side which boasts the likes of defender Bella Connell and her co-coach Susie Wilson and Emily Birch.

PREDICTIONS: Lions by three goals, Saints by 14 and Roos by 17