Saints record upset win
TOOLEYBUC-Manangatang have claimed consecutive wins for the first time this season with an upset 20-goal victory over Nyah-Nyah West United on Saturday afternoon.
The Saints led from the opening minutes of the match, with a six-goal burst giving them the ascendency which they never relinquished.
They outscored the Demons in every quarter on their way to a 57-37 goal victory.
NNW United were once again without regular goal shooter Sarah Gaskin, with Milla Hovenden stepping into the role for her debut A Grade appearance.
Tooleybuc-Manangatang were well served by late-season recruits Laura Grant and Zoe Livingston, with the pair providing “great direction”, according to Saints coach Mel Wait.
“It’s been good to get some wins,” Wait said.
“It wasn’t as clean as the week before (against Cohuna), but it was just a good contest
“Having Zoe (Livingston) and Laura (Grant) in the team has really increased the confidence of the other girls.
“Summer (Blachford) played really well in goals and Laura Grant played very well in defence and gave good direction.”
The loss also extinguishes NNW United’s faint finals hopes, with the Demons now two wins behind fifth-placed Cohuna, but with just one match remaining in their season.
“We had a lot of changes throughout the game and struggled to settle in,” NNW United coach Madi Jones said.
“Our defensive pressure across the court was good we just weren’t able to capitalise when we had possession.”
Defender Shanai Kelly was judged best for NNW United.
Magpies in full control
LAKE Boga have extended their winning streak to 14 with a dominant 36-goal win at home over Tyntynder.
Sarah Hepburn continued her outstanding season in the ring for the Magpies, shooting 50 goals in the 60-24 win.
It was the third time this season Hepburn has scored more than 50 goals in a match, with the goal shooter having shot an incredible 567 goals in 14 games.
After another strong display from the undefeated Magpies, coach Anne-Marie Stewart was full of praise for her team’s full-court performance.
“It was much the same as the last couple of weeks with all our players playing well and enjoying their netball,” Stewart said.
“My sister combinations were great again, Sarah (Hepburn) and Katie (Carmichael) in goals and Emma (Peacock) and Sophie (Peacock) all combined well and played beautifully.
“Our centre this week again was exceptional, with Lily (Brennan), Taigan (O’Shannassy) and Jemma (Meehan) showing great versatility at being able to change and adapt quickly.
“Overall, it was a good, strong game from everyone.”
Blues’ uptick continues
KERANG have continued their late-season resurgence, claiming their fourth straight victory with a 31-goal win over Koondrook-Barham.
The Blues could well be left to rue their slow start to the season having now found form, with the 59-28 result a turnaround of their round 3 shock loss to the Raiders.
Kerang will now go into their match against the Mallee Eagles this Saturday full of confidence.
“I’m really happy with the way the girls played and were able to put together a dominant performance,” Blues coach Chloe Adams said.
“Full credit to Koondrook-Barham though, their goalers were super accurate and they had some lovely passages of play.
“Tlarnee Lake was dominant as always, and their defence end worked really hard and were hungry all game.
“We were able to push each quarter and work our way through any lulls or momentum swings, which allowed us to push the score out.
“Lily Wise moved into goal defence to replace ‘KB’ (Keiarah Brooks) for the week. KB leaves massive shoes to fill and yet Lily did it so well.
“Jarni Gilmour also slotted right back in to wing defence and brought her experience and game smarts to the role. She supported Lily on the line and in transition beautifully.
“We also had Mikala McNeill come on in the last quarter in wing defence and she was also rock solid.
“Our attack end continued to build with all four of them connecting and playing off one another really well.
Kerang’s better players were Denise Snyder, who scored 38 goals, Danielle Coates and Lily Wise, while Tlarnee Lake, Abby Paul and Emily Copland were among the better players for Koondrook-Barham.
