WOORINEN resurrected their finals hopes, and climbed into the top five for the first time this season, with a shock six-goal win over the Mallee Eagles on Saturday.
With persistent rain making for a low-scoring affair, Woorinen blew the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the home side 10-5 and turning a one-goal half-time deficit into a four-goal lead at the final change.
From there the Tigers where never headed, extending their lead in the final term to claim a 30-24 victory.
Young star Willow Conlan again proved hard to stop, scoring 24 of her team’s 30 goals.
The result pleased Woorinen coach Tayla Bennett.
“We knew we would match (Mallee Eagles) well one on one, and if we executed a solid four-quarter effort we could come away with the win,” Bennett said.
“It definitely puts us back in the finals race and we know we have a hard run home with everyone in the top six to play, but I think we are ready for it and (Saturday) just cemented the belief and confidence that as a team, we can do whatever we put our energy into.
“I feel like over the last few weeks we have really worked out our rolling subs and how they can change a game.
“I also think our juniors that we have continued to rotate through the team and give these opportunities to have stepped up and are showing how far they have come in that season of continuous senior development.”
It was a tough outcome for the Eagles on a day when the club celebrated their 120th year, with the wet conditions not playing to their advantage, according to Mallee co-coach Alicia Harvey.
“We’re a very quick and agile team and we play our best netball when we can move the ball nice and quick, which is unfortunately quite difficult to do in the wet,” Harvey said.
“Our girls worked hard and fought until the end, we just couldn’t capitalise on the turnovers in the second half.
“We were strong in the first half and got the upper hand early and had some excellent defensive pressure that caused their turnovers, but we just weren’t able to sustain it.
“Obviously it’s not the result we were after and I think there’s a lot to take from the game, but credit to Woorinen, they played some very consistent netball and that game was probably their make-or-break match to keep their finals hopes alive.
“This year is a season where no team can be underestimated regardless of ladder position and we knew it would be a tough and physical match and that’s exactly what Woorinen brought to the table.”
Among the Eagles’ better players were Kasey Torr, who rotated through all three attacking positions, and wing defence Leah McKenzie, who was one of her team’s key ball-movers through the midcourt.
The Eagles will now have two weeks off with the bye in round 12 before hosting Tooleybuc-Manangatang, while Woorinen will face another make-or-break match against a rejuvenated NNW United after the interleague bye.
