NNW UNITED v TYNTYNDER
NYAH-Nyah West United have kept their finals hopes alive with an upset seven-goal win over a Tyntynder side who were left ruing their missed opportunities on Saturday.
Cohuna’s defeat to Balranald opened the door for the Bulldogs to climb back into the top five, but it was the Demons who instead took their chances to drag themselves back into the finals mix, with the 38-31 win bringing NNW United to within one win of fifth position.
After trailing by 12 goals at three-quarter-time, Tyntynder fought back over the final 15 minutes to at one point trail by just four, before the Demons rallied late to claim their fourth win of the season.
It was a pleasing result for NNW United coach Madi Jones, with her team finally getting over the line in a close result after losing several tight games in recent weeks.
“I was really happy with how the girls played and we could see the things that we have been working on at training coming into effect on the court yesterday,” Jones said.
“The girls were able to handle the pressure that Tyntynder kept coming at us with better than we have in previous games, which was also nice to see, but overall it was a really good win for the girls to get.”
Midcourters Matika Mitchell, Annabelle Arnold and Lucy Millard were the Demons’ better players, while goal defence Monica Ellis and centre Jackie Rivett were the best for Tyntynder.
FINAL SCORE
NNW United 38
Tyntynder 31
COHUNA v BALRANALD
AN injury-depleted Balranald have climbed back into the top three with a strong 11-goal win over Cohuna at the weekend.
Despite missing injured stars Jess Parry and Brie Galvin, the Roos proved too strong for the Kangas, with the 52-41 result also relegating Cohuna from the top five for the first time since round 2.
Balranald were the first to adapt to the wet conditions, with the Roos opening up a five-goal lead by half-time, before extending their advantage in the third and final terms on their way to victory.
It was a result that confirmed Balranald’s credentials as a potential top-three team, with Elli-Jane Pollard full of praise for her team’s ability to move the ball in the inclement weather.
“It was a great win in not-so-great conditions,” Pollard said post-match.
“Our girls really adapted to the wet-weather game and worked together really well as a team to move the ball.
“Grace Morton was fantastic for us and was a real standout in defence with numerous intercepts, but all the girls played particularly well.”
While there were positives to take from the game for Cohuna coach Georgia Anderson, the result was not one of them, with the Kangas also losing young star Ebony Black to injury to compound their woes.
“I was happy to see our attacking end try new things and adjust to how we need them to play, but silly errors will always end with the other team capitalising,” Anderson said.
“Losing Ebony to injury hurt as it limited our ability to move the team around, but their shooter (Bec Harvey) knew exactly what to do with her body – she was very good and accurate.”
Wing defence Lily Guerin was the best for the Kangas, with Delainey Holmes and Marli Easton also among Cohuna’s better players.
FINAL SCORE
Cohuna 41
Balranald 52
KERANG v LAKE BOGA
LAKE Boga have extended their winning streak to 10 after defeating Kerang by 25 goals in wet conditions at Riverside Park on Saturday.
Sarah Hepburn was among the Magpies’ better players in the 48-23 win, with the Lake Boga goal shooter accounting for 34 of her team’s goals in the commanding win.
It was another strong performance from the premiership favourites, who remain undefeated to start the season, with assistant coach Sheridan Harrop impressed with how her team adapted to the wet conditions.
“It was good that we started off strong,” Harrop said.
“We steadied our pace on court and all gave second and third efforts with our defensive pressure and turnovers across the court, as well as working the ball confidently into the attack end.”
Kerang coach Chloe Adams was left to rue her team’s lack of composure with the ball but was happy overall with the improvement her team showed against the best side in the competition.
“We were happy with our efforts in defence but unfortunately just weren’t clinical enough with ball in hand in our attack end and a defensive unit like Lake Boga punishes you for that,” Adams said.
“We had some strong passages of play and overall I was happy with our second and third quarters, but our first and last quarters really hurt us and we just couldn’t stay in the contest.”
Sophie Peacock was among the Magpies’ better players, along with Hepburn, while goal defence Keiarah Brooks was the best player for Kerang.
FINAL SCORE
Kerang 23
Lake Boga 48
SWAN HILL v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
A 50-goal performance from goal shooter Zoe Morris helped Swan Hill secure a percentage-boosting 63-goal win over Koondrook-Barham at the weekend.
The Raiders had no answer for the premiership shooter, with Morris dominating the Swans’ attacking end in the 82-19 victory which was set up by a strong defensive performance, according to Swan Hill co-coach Madeleine Nalder.
“The girls did a really great job yesterday, especially with rainy, slippery conditions,” Nalder said.
“It was a strong game where everyone contributed.
“The defenders turned the ball over regularly which gave our shooters a lot of opportunities, and they were accurate at the post, which was great too.
“Our mid(court)s really had to change up our play due to the conditions and they did a great job of adjusting and controlling the ball through the court.”
Defender Stevie Bibby was among Swan Hill’s better players, along with Morris, while Ella Hall and Jade McMahon were the best for the Raiders.
FINAL SCORE
Swan Hill 82
Koondrook-Barham 19
