Zaida Glibanovic and Erika Allen
DROUIN was just too strong for Sale in Round 5 of Gippsland League netball, and defeated the Magpies 64 to 21.
Sale was forced to drive down the Princes Highway to face a full-strength Hawks side with little chance of beating them.
The Magpies’ start was slow, as they went down by nine goals in the first term. Hawks Kym Diston, Karina Proctor and Ruby Pritchett were on their A-game, making it hard for the Magpies to score.
Sale’s Kate Van der Voort once again made the most of the Magpies scoring opportunities, scoring 16 of their total but it just wasn’t Sale’s day. Kristy Glover and Hannah Abdalla were also impressive despite the loss.
Maffra had no luck on Saturday, falling to Morwell 83-19.
The Tigers wanted to prove they’re still in finals contention, and after a win of this magnitude, showed they may well be.
Morwell travelled to Maffra and quickly got out to a 23-goal lead by the first break.
First-year Morwell shooter, Tiffany Boatman put in the work, facilitating plays from goal attack, shooting 37 goals. Coach Courtney Garth led by example in defence, limiting the Eagles to an average of just under five goals a quarter.
Tiger Seish Boyd-Thomas was also good in the win.
The Eagles’ scores were hard to come by, but they persevered and celebrated all the small wins.
Krystal Craft, Chloe Felsbourg and Jana Hennig performed well.
In other games, Moe humbled Bairnsdale, winning 77-29 at home.
The Lions, on a fast and flying start to their premiership defence, again showed the competition that they are the real deal.
Moe midcourter Charlize Bird returned from injury, quickly getting back into the swing of things and securing a spot in the best. Alex Moody was exceptional, as was coach Ramayer Gourley in a dominant shooting display.
Ruby Dunkley, Anna Mooney and Sally Deller were notable in defeat for the Redlegs.
Wonthaggi escaped a scare as Traralgon narrowly went down to the Power 45-38.
While it wasn’t another fairy-tale ending for the Maroons, Traralgon has many positive signs for the future.
The match was almost neck-and-neck, but Wonthaggi capitalised on every opportunity to win away from home.
Power shooter Cassidy Bowman was too strong under the post, while midcourters Alana McRae and Ellie Bates were impressive.
Despite the loss, Traralgon’s young guns are showing some real fight. The exciting midcourt combination of Milly Murphy, Ashlyn Pavey and Montanna Styles worked brilliantly, earning each of them a mention in the best.
In her A Grade debut season, Grace Van Tilburg has been a force to be reckoned with for Traralgon, shooting very effectively. Van Tilburg will be one to watch in the upcoming years.
Warragul got the job done on the road, beating Leongatha 60-52.
The Parrots started well, lingering within one goal by the first break, but Warragul managed to hold them at bay.
The Gulls welcomed back former Suncorp Super Netball shooter Emma Ryde, who put on a dominant show under the post, shooting 55 of the 60 goals. Warragul’s Becky Dixon and Sienna Green were also good.
The Parrots really pushed a strong Warragul side, and would be happy with their performance.
Leongatha’s Jayde Hall, Nicola Marriott and former Mirboo North star Mikaeli Hilliar were named in the best for their team.
SALE CITY is the team to beat this season in North Gippsland.
The Bulldogs continue to dominate, with Glengarry being their latest victim at the weekend in a 47-36 scoreline. The Bulldogs don’t mind playing away from home, and came away with a convincing 11-goal victory.
Woodside had no qualms welcoming Cowwarr, in what would be an inevitable defeat for the Saints. The Wildcats maintained a solid performance to win 61-39.
Heyfield was another team that held their own even on the road, travelling to Yarram to hand the Demonettes an eye-watering 54-9 loss.
Rosedale held off Yallourn Yallourn North with a 33-24 victory, while Churchill got the best of Traralgon Tyers United, 46-36.
Gormandale had the bye.
OUT of the four teams that took to courts in Round 4 of East Gippsland netball, Boisdale-Briagolong proved they are a club to watch this season.
Playing in Lakes Entrance, the Bombers’ A Grade team capped off a victorious day for the club, which included the 15 and Under side who claimed their first victory for the season.
Away from home, the Bombers’ A Grade netballers were infallible, winning 59-47.
Boisdale-Briagolong A Grade playing-coach, Sarah Gardiner continued to lead by example, earning a spot in the best. Alongside her, Ash McDonough, a versatile midcourt player proficient at centre, wing attack, and wing defence, is proving Gardiner’s preseason prediction that she is “one to watch this season”, following another standout performance last weekend.
In the absence of mid-court workhorse Linley Bertacchini, McDonough played a full four-quarter game in centre. McDonough deftly fed the ball to Gardiner, who played in wing attack in the first half; the mid-court pair were key in delivering the ball into the Bombers’ goal third.
Despite her youth, McDonough has honed her skills through the junior ranks at Boisdale-Briagolong, building netball intelligence, speed, and agility to achieve A Grade player status for the second consecutive year.
Gardiner backed up a physical first half in the mid-court as she stepped into goal attack, where she used speed and agility to drive her body into the ring, proving she steps it up in close games.
Despite being the better of the two sides in recent history, Boisdale-Briagolong was challenged by Lakes Entrance, which kept up with the Bombers’ notoriously fast-paced brand of play, evident in the high-scoring result. Still, Boisdale-Briagolong triumphed by 12 goals.
Elsewhere, Orbost Snowy Rovers triumphed over Wy Yung with a dominant 26-goal victory, 70-44.
Stratford, Lucknow, Lindenow and Paynesville all had the bye.
Gippsland League – Round 5
A GRADE – Drouin 64 d Sale 21, Warragul 60 d Leongatha 52, Wonthaggi 45 d Traralgon 38, Moe 77 d Bairnsdale 29, Morwell 83 d Maffra 13.
B GRADE – Drouin 46 d Sale 34, Leongatha 57 d Warragul 36, Traralgon 47 d Wonthaggi 32, Moe 63 d Bairnsdale 35, Morwell 59 d Maffra 26.
C GRADE – Drouin 52 d Sale 24, Leongatha 34 d Warragul 24, Wonthaggi 45 d Traralgon 33, Bairnsdale 30 d Moe 27, Morwell 36 d Maffra 34.
17 AND UNDER – Sale 38 d Drouin 22, Leongatha 59 d Warragul 13, Traralgon 46 d Wonthaggi 29, Bairnsdale 46 d Moe 19, Maffra 44 d Morwell 24.
15 AND UNDER – Sale 47 d Drouin 19, Leongatha 34 d Warragul 32, Traralgon 58 d Wonthaggi 18, Bairnsdale 35 d Moe 33, Maffra 41 d Morwell 30.
13 AND UNDER – Sale 34 d Drouin 20, Leongatha 54 d Warragul 4, Traralgon 52 d Wonthaggi 2, Moe 37 d Bairnsdale 11, Maffra 57 d Morwell 7.
North Gippsland – Round 4
A GRADE – Woodside 61 d Cowwarr 39, Heyfield 54 d Yarram 9, Churchill 46 d Traralgon Tyers United 36, Sale City 47 d Glengarry 36, Rosedale 33 d Yallourn Yallourn North 24, Gormandale bye.
B GRADE – Woodside 66 d Cowwarr 29, Heyfield 48 d Yarram 31, Churchill 47 d TTU 36, Sale City 57 d Glengarry 24, YYN 40 d Rosedale 27, Gormandale bye.
C GRADE – Woodside 48 d Cowwarr 12, Yarram 33 d Heyfield 15, Churchill 39 draw TTU 39, Sale City 32 d Glengarry 22, YYN 32 d Rosedale 28, Gormandale bye.
D GRADE – Woodside 35 d Cowwarr 17, Heyfield 23 d Yarram 21, Churchill 33 d TTU 29, Sale City 40 d Glengarry 12, Rosedale 38 d YYN 35, Gormandale bye.
17 AND UNDER – Woodside 49 d Cowwarr 9, Heyfield 48 d Yarram 8, TTU 32 d Churchill 12, Sale City 50 d Glengarry 18, Rosedale 42 d YYN 15, Gormandale bye.
15 AND UNDER – Woodside 35 d Cowwarr 2, Heyfield 77 d Yarram 1, TTU 65 d Churchill 10, Sale City 31 d Glengarry 16, Rosedale 33 d YYN 14, Gormandale bye.
East Gippsland – Round 4
A GRADE: Boisdale-Briagolong 59 d Lakes Entrance 47, Orbost Snowy Rovers 70 d Wy Yung 44, Lindenow, Stratford, Lucknow and Paynesville bye.
B GRADE: Boisdale-Briagolong 54 d Lakes Entrance 30, Wy Yung 39 d Orbost Snowy Rovers 34.
C GRADE: Boisdale-Briagolong 36 d Lakes Entrance 16, Wy Yung 39 d Orbost Snowy Rovers 32.
D GRADE: Boisdale-Briagolong 49 d Lakes Entrance 18, Wy Yung 56 d Orbost Snowy Rovers 14.
17 AND UNDER: Boisdale-Briagolong 46 d Lakes Entrance 27, Wy Yung d Orbost Snowy Rovers 33.
15 AND UNDER: Boisdale-Briagolong 41 d Lakes Entrance 13, Orbost Snowy Rovers 36 d Wy Yung 30.
