BALRANALD v TYNTYNDER
BALRANALD will go in favourites against Tyntynder, but they are by no means guaranteed of victory against an outfit improving by the week.
The Bulldogs were ultra-competitive against second-placed Woorinen last Saturday and will fancy their chances of an upset against the reigning premiers, who have won just one of their five matches at home this season and are fresh off the bye.
Tyntynder also go in with a settled line-up, making no changes from the side that lost by just six goals to the Tigers.
Bulldogs A Grade coach Teagan Lawry expected another competitive effort from her team.
“It’s nice to coach a team that goes out there and has a crack, and that’s exactly what the girls have been doing these last few weeks,” Lawry told The Guardian.
“That’s the mindset we’ve been going in with each game.
“We know finals aren’t a realistic option for us this year, but it’s nice to get out there and be really competitive, especially against the top five sides.
“We seem to be able to match it with most sides, it’s just a matter of converting, which is something we struggle with a little bit – but we’ve certainly grown a lot throughout the season and I’m really proud of where we’ve come to.
“It always takes a little while to gel new players together and although we have some players who have played together in the past like Bridget and Nicola and Dem and Toni, the rest of the girls are pretty new to each other.
“We haven’t hit our straps yet and there is still a lot of work to do, but we’re starting to play some really good netball which has been really fun.”
Balranald also have form, winning three of their past four matches, including a 41-goal defeat of the Cohuna Kangas at their last start.
Locked in a three-way battle with the Mallee Eagles and Kerang for fourth and fifth on the ladder, and with a challenging run home, tomorrow is a must-win game for the Roos if they want to have any chance of defending their title.
With both teams possessing strong midcourts, the match is likely to be decided by which team takes their opportunities to score, with Lawry outlining that area of the Bulldogs game as a critical focus when they take to the court tomorrow.
“From our point of view, we need to look after the ball and convert, which I know is really simple netball, but that’s where it lies for us, making sure we convert,” Lawry said.
“Sometimes the simple things are the most important, and we’re very much about getting the simple things right, then you only need to win an intercept here or there you win the game.
“We have to work harder at converting our centre pass and when our defenders do get that steal, we need to convert on that as well.
“(Balranald) are always a tough team to play and while a lot has changed since round 1 for us, a lot has probably changed for them as well.
“They won the premiership on grit and determination and not giving up, so they have that mindset, and I’m sure that will be there again.”
While Tyntynder will put up a fight, the stakes for Balranald should be enough to get them over the line when it matters most.
Tip – Balranald to win by five goals.
LAKE BOGA v MALLEE EAGLES
LAKE Boga will be out to secure their 12th straight win of the season when they meet an emerging Mallee Eagles.
The Magpies started their unbeaten streak with a four-goal win against the Eagles in the opening game of the season.
A 14-goal to eight first quarter in favour of Lake Boga proved the difference that day, along with an impressive first game back to former Magpie Holly Hogan, who has been a constant threat in the centre since.
The difference now though is the form of their opponents, with the Mallee Eagles having won seven of their past eight matches, including an impressive 52-37 win over Kerang last Saturday.
While the two teams tend to match up relatively well across the court, Lake Boga seem to hold the advantage on paper in their attacking end, with both Katie and Sarah Hepburn opposed to Sarah Young and Laura Fay.
With Lake Boga’s unbeaten streak handing them the tag of premiership favourites, they have quickly become the hunted instead of hunter – which means the dangerous Eagles line-up have nothing to lose.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by five goals.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v NNW UNITED
KOONDROOK-Barham will be out to make every post a winner when they host Nyah-Nyah West United, with the Raiders a very real chance secure their first win of 2023.
They are unlucky to not already have a win under their belt after leading for much of their game against Cohuna last Saturday.
Emily Fasham and Tatum Boyd put together their best performance of the season, with the pair combining to produce the Raiders’ highest score to date (52 goals).
The challenge will be in repeating that effort again across the court, with the Demons set to be no pushover after also producing an impressive display against the undefeated ladder leaders Lake Boga, especially when you consider their injury issues.
NNW United, who are still learning how to play with new goalie combination Steph Henson and Bridie Curran, will now have major changes to their midcourt combinations as well, following knee injuries to coach Laura Anderson and assistant coach Madison Jones against the Magpies.
Their absences will heap pressure on Shania Decker and Lucy Millard in the Demons centre third against Remy and Tess Doyle, but with Taylen Blachford and Aleesha Flanagan still holding the defensive third together, the visitors might have just enough to outlast the Raiders.
Tip – NNW United to win by four goals.
KERANG v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
TOMORROW’S home match against Tooleybuc-Manangatang has quickly turned into a must-win game for Kerang following another disappointing display against the Mallee Eagles last Saturday.
The Blues had everything to play for seven days ago, but were found wanting as the Eagles opened up a 10-goal lead by half time, leaving Chloe Adams’ team teetering outside the top five and at risk of missing the finals.
With just five games to go, every match now becomes a must-win for Kerang, starting with the 10th-placed Saints, a team they beat by 48 goals in wet conditions in round 1.
Both teams have improved since, with the new-look Blues line-up having spent half a season together, and the Saints adding Eden Hoare and Katelyn Hazlett to their side.
It’s not just about winning for Kerang tomorrow however, they also need to win well in order to boost their percentage, which will most likely have a major say in who does – and who doesn’t – play finals this season.
Tip – Kerang to win by 19 goals.
WOORINEN v COHUNA KANGAS
SECOND-placed Woorinen will look for their seventh-straight win when they host the eighth-placed Cohuna Kangas.
While they are in red-hot form, the Tigers were also made to earn the four points against a much-improved Tyntynder last Saturday, suggesting they may well be ripe for the picking.
That said, they should have more than enough class to account for Cohuna, who had their own lucky escape last weekend, coming from behind against the winless Koondrook-Barham.
Tayla Bennett was unstoppable when the two teams met earlier this season, scoring 47 of the Tigers’ 54 goals in round 1.
The Kangas had both Keely Wilson and Danni Sawyer in defence that day, with both missing this time around, making Cohuna’s job of quelling Bennett even harder.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 24 goals.
