Gray milestone fires up black and while

MERNEIN’S Emily Gray played her 100th game on Saturday and lead the Magpies to a convincing win over the Imperials in the Sunraysia Football Netball League A Grade netball round 17 match at Compound Accounting Park.

The first quarter started quickly with Gray shooting accurately in goal attack and Aimee Geyer supporting in shooter.

Imps defenders Kia Scott and Maggie Monaghan were given a good run for their money and with missed shots in attack their team were down nine goals at quarter time.

The second quarter saw Magpies playing coach Johannah Gray match up well against Imps goal shooter Ebony Ietto, with Gray’s solid defence stopping Ietto from scoring freely.

Meg McManus in goal attack in goal attack for the Imps started hitting the net getting her team within four goals but at half time Merbein still lead by six.

Geyer came out firing at the start of the third and Gray didn’t miss a goal for Merbein, with Sophie Gray in centre and Teagan Pettigrew on the wing providing lots of scoring opportunities.

Imps centre Tracey Sherlock matched up well against Gray and Pettigrew however the Magpies were up 43 to 36 at the last change.

Ietto was on target for the Imps in the last quarter but Merbeins goal defence Kieta McKee had a height advantage and used it whenever the ball went astray.

The Magpies ran out winners by eight goals and coach Gray said she was proud of their four quarter effort.

“Eveyone’s happy with the win and I thought we played a full four quarters, I thought Emily in her 100th game had a phenomenal game – she missed one goal for the whole match and I think that really helped lead everyone on the court for the win,” she said.

“Our intention was to come out strong and maintain possession and we did that really well I thought, which gave us the mental edge.”

Gray said she’s looking forward to playing Red Cliffs next week as they haven’t met them since early on in the season.

“It’s been a long time since we last played them and we were head to head so I think it’ll be a great game as well, it could go either way,” she said.

“Everyone’s coming towards the end (of the season) and everyone’s trying to make finals, make the top five so I think it’ll be interesting.”

SCORES

BEST

Merbein

Vanessa Rodi, Emily Gray 

Imperials

Kia Scott, Tracey Sherlock