BALRANALD v NNW UNITED
THIS Saturday’s match against Nyah-Nyah West United is shaping up to be another danger game for Balranald, who will once again be without star goaler and co-coach Jess Parry.
The third-placed Roos were completely dismantled by Swan Hill last Saturday, with Balranald scoring just 22 goals in three quarters of netball while conceding 51 goals over the same period.
The absence of Parry was felt hard after quarter-time, with Swan Hill’s experienced players taking control of the game, and although the Demons won’t bring the same level of experience to Saturday’s match, they have shown themselves to have enough talent to match it with the Central Murray’s better teams so far.
Last Saturday could well have been the perfect example, with the Demons proving more than competitive over three quarters against ladder leaders Lake Boga.
If they are able to bring the same level of effort on Saturday, they could easily cause an upset.
Matika Mitchell looms as the key player for NNW United in the centre, the midcourter giving her side plenty of direction and helping her team transition from defence to attack, with Bonnie Jolliffe playing an equally important role in the middle for Balranald.
With just two points separating third and sixth, the race for the five is beginning to heat up, and with so much to play for, the Roos should get over the line in a close one.
Tip – Balranald to win by two goals.
WOORINEN v TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
WOORINEN will be hoping to keep their finals hopes alive with a second straight win when they host Tooleybuc-Manangatang at Tigerland this Saturday afternoon.
Having not played for three weeks, the Tigers will be fresh and ready to attack a Saints outfit who should be full of confidence after securing their first win of the season last Saturday with a 25-goal victory over Koondrook-Barham.
While a win over the Raiders was expected, it was the manner in which Tooleybuc-Manangatang played that would have pleased the Saints faithful, with their ball movement down the court and ability to create turnovers further proof that their young squad are on the right path.
The return of Taylah Morris was a welcome one, with the goal keeper set for another tough battle on Saturday opposed to Tigers young gun Willow Conlan, who continues to impress with every A-grade game.
Rhiann O’Meara will again be absent for the Saints, giving the Tigers’ midcourters Ava Crow, Jaimee Beasy and Chloe Militto the advantage over the Saints’ less experienced runners.
Tessa Demaria is the other important player for the Tigers, with the experienced defender giving her team flexibility through her ability to play any position on the court.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 10 goals.
KOONDROOK-BARHAM v MALLEE EAGLES
THE Mallee Eagles will be aiming for their third consecutive win when they travel to Barham to face the River Raiders this weekend.
Having started the season slowly, the Eagles have steadily built themselves into a force to be reckoned with in recent weeks after strong wins over Tyntynder and Balranald to put themselves well and truly in the finals mix.
With a full-strength squad at their disposal, the Eagles will go in as favourites against a Koondrook-Barham outfit who were without key player Remy Doyle for last Saturday’s loss to Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
The young centre is still in doubt to take her place in the Raiders’ side this Saturday.
Her absence again would be a devastating blow for the Raiders, who missed her run and drive through the midcourt last week and would need to find a way of countering the Eagles’ fast combination of Alicia Harvey, Jess Jobling and Leah McKenzie.
While Tlarnee Lake is one of the Central Murray’s best goalers on her day, Kasey Torr and Megan Thorneycroft are equally damaging for the Eagles and should lead the visitors to a comfortable win Saturday.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 16 goals.
