Sunny Girlz go oh so close

SUNRAYSIA’s sole representative netball team in interleague action at the weekend came up painfully short in a tough 15 & under clash clash with Central Murray at the Alan Garden courts in Swan Hill.

An undermanned green and gold squad – due to the late withdrawals of key players including Emma Mottram and Lexi Munro – was within striking distance of the hosts all day and even held a two-point half-time lead before going down 46-43 in one of the day’s closest encounters of any kind.

“We probably had four players missing, so we are happy with that (result),” coach Lisa Mangan said after the clash.

“We were down to one on the bench, so a couple of girls had to step up.

“School holidays, a week off … time constraints and injuries, illnesses and those sorts of things, didn’t exactly help.”

The young squads have met quite frequently in recent times with the Sunny Girlz holding a slight edge.

“We have probably played that team three times in the last four weeks because we’ve been away at tournaments,” she said.

“We drew once and beat them by two in the most recent encounter, but we had different players and it’s a shorter game. Tournament games are only two eight-minute halves, but that hit-out was good for the girls and gets us back on track … probably just the wrong weekend during the school holidays.”

Wentworth’s Dominique Pascale claimed the medal as Sunraysia’s best on court while South Mildura shooter Macey Andriske also impressed.