CENTRAL MURRAY NETBALL LEAGUE 1ST SEMI-FINAL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2.30PM
BALRANALD v LAKE BOGA
ALAN GARDEN RESERVE – COURT 1
THE start will be all important when Balranald and Lake Boga face off in Sunday’s first semi-final for the right to stay in this year’s A Grade finals series.
Balranald were slow out of the blocks against the Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final and found themselves seven goals down midway through the first quarter – while the Magpies have also been perennial slow starters this season, according to their coach Anna Archie.
“We don’t start games very well and, to be honest, we’ve been very slow starters throughout the season,” Archie said.
“But with that, we know we can pull teams back and we can match it with our opposition throughout the middle and latter stages of games. Our starts are something that we really need to tidy up now that we are getting this stage of the season.”
The feeling was mutual for Balranald coach Jess Parry, who was disappointed with her side’s first quarter last Saturday, before getting back into the game after half-time.
“Apart from that slow start, we were more than competitive for the rest of the game – we just lacked momentum and intensity early and we were pretty flat considering it was a final,” Parry said.
“But to only go down by five goals when we didn’t do any of those things well, I think we can take some confidence away from that game and know that our best is good enough, but we just can’t afford to have any more slow starts.”
While Parry was disappointed with her team’s performance last weekend, the same cannot be said for Archie, who was thrilled to come away with a win in what was a first A Grade finals match for the majority of her team.
The only time both Balranald and Lake Boga have met this season was in round 11, with the game ending in 43-all draw. The Magpies had to come from behind to share the points on that occasion, with the Hepburn sisters – Sarah and Katie – both strong performers under the goal ring for Lake Boga.
Parry said the Hepburn sisters would again take a lot of the focus as her team looked to progress.
“They are another team that have tall goalies under the post, which is always a huge asset to a team and makes it a big job for our defenders,” Parry said.
“We know we’ve got a lot of work to do, especially with Anna Archie running through the centre and Jemma Meehan in defence as well – they have a very handy side and we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure the result goes our way on Sunday.
“We’ll be playing to our strengths – we know what we can do and what we’re capable of and we just need to make sure we bring that on the weekend.”
Archie said Lake Boga would look to continue their good recent form, focusing on their own game and bringing plenty of full-court pressure to the contest, while countering Balranald’s key players such as Bree Hodgson, Bonnie Jolliffe and Parry.
“They are a very different style team to Woorinen,” Archie said. “There’ll probably be a bit more court space and they’ve got certain players that we need to be aware of and if they’re on their game, then we’ll be in for a battle.
“But I feel our team is in a good place at the moment and we go into the game full of confidence that our best netball is good enough.”
With a spot in the preliminary final at stake, a tight tussle is almost guaranteed – with the only guarantee that there’ll be no draw this time around.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by one goal.
