Mallee Eagles v Woorinen
UNDEFEATED Mallee Eagles can all but seal the CMFNL A Grade minor premiership if they hold off a challenge from Woorinen at home on Saturday.
The high-flying birds, who have the league’s most prolific offence and are not too shabby at the back, have shown they are clearly the class of the comp this season, but third-placed Woorinen are lurking in third with a 9-2 record and a victory for the visitors would make things very interesting in the battle for top three positioning.
The last time they met, in round four at Woorinen Recreation Reserve, the Eagles led from start to finish on their way to a relatively comfortable 11-goal victory.
Shooter Megan Thorneycroft, with 30 goals, and goal attack Julia Amezdroz (24) held sway in that encounter and the dynamic duo has barely let up since.
Midcourters Alicia Harvey, Lilly Brennan and wing attack Kasey Torr provide them with plenty of ball and Nevaeh Roberts is a rock in defence.
To overcome all that, the Tigers are going to have to be on top of their game, but they also have a goal-shooting threat in Tayla Bennett, who nailed a lazy 40 goals against Balranald in the game before the interleague break.
Utility Tessa Demaria, centre Chloe Militto and keeper Courtney Lolicato have also been prominent performers in the team’s current six-game winning streak.
Still, at the Lalbert Recreation Reserve, safe to stick with the hosts.
Tip: Eagles by 11 goals.
Kerang v Koondrook-Barham
OPPORTUNITY knocks for Koondrook-Barham when they travel to second-placed Kerang.
The River Raiders sit comfortably in fourth with an 8-3 record but could nudge close to second at the end of Saturday’s action as Kerang, 9-2, are in somewhat of a form slump.
The Blues have dropped their past two games – the latest being a tough one-goal loss to league strugglers Lake Boga before the break.
Katelyn Wright and Denise Roberts were potent near the net, but their efforts weren’t enough to get them past the hosts.
Meanwhile, Koondrook-Barham had a day out against another battling side, Tyntynder, in round 12 racking up a 50-27 victory at Barham.
Goal shooter Erin Moerenhout scored 37 goals thanks to fine midcourt support from centre Remy Doyle and wings Elly Bookham and Ella Hall while Emma Peacock was solid at the back.
A win for the Raiders would certainly tighten the race for the double chance.
Tip: Koondrook-Barham by seven goals.
Lake Boga v Swan Hill
FIFTH-placed Swan Hill would love to extend their edge over idle Tooleybuc-Manangatang with an away victory at Lake Boga, but that task may be bit more difficult than previously anticipated.
The Swans’ 6-5 season took a turn for the better last time out with a comfortable 59-47 stroll against lowly lowly Nyah Nyah West United at Alan Garden Reserve.
Ava Seymour and Kelly Bonney combined for 56 of those goals and got plenty of help from Karli McIntyre, Miela Roberts and defenders Mollie Quin and Jaya Jenkins-Jaiswal in a performance which gave them a one game advantage over the Saints.
However, seemingly dormant Lake Boga roused into action last round and knocked off hopeful title chasers Kerang by a goal at home.
Shooter Milla Holt scored a whopping 40 goals while defenders Felicity Robertson and Maddy Gleeson locked down a usually potent Blues attack.
Sitting eighth with an unimpressive 3-8 record, the Magpies finally showed some signs of life and appear keen to end the season on a high.
They go into Saturday’s home game with nothing to lose and everything to gain while a loss for the Swans would make their place in the five that bit more precarious.
Tip: Swan Hill by seven goals.
Tyntynder v Balranald
BALRANALD can keep their slimmest of finals hopes alive with an away win over Tyntynder.
A 3-7-1 record is nothing to write home about but mathematically they are still in the finals hunt – 10 points out with five rounds to play.
That draw came against the 2-8-1 Bulldogs in round four and recent form does not suggest they are on a realistic finals drive.
Before the interleague break they crashed to a 49-28 loss to Woorinen with shooter Bec Harvey showing some form, but she received little help in a lopsided tryst with the Tigers.
However, the week before that, they did shock Swan Hill at Greenham Park by 21 goals to add some spark to their season.
The Dogs’ campaign has been grim, to say the least, and they are having a devil of a time scoring – amassing about 37 per game.
Violet Corrie can put the biscuit in the basket, the problem appears to be getting the orb to her.
Tip: Balranald by nine goals.
NNW United v Cohuna
COHUNA should be able to increase their meagre season win total when they take on winless Nyah Nyah West United.
With a game in hand on the rest of the field and a likely victory in the offing, the Kangas, who boast a 3-7 tally, could have a long-shot chance at making a finals push – as unlikely as that may seem.
Coming off a three-week break the Kangas should be well rested for the task and they have been competitive in most encounters this season.
Carla Walker and Carly Geary are useful scorers and Tanner Edwards and Taylor Hird provide midcourt drive, but they just don’t have enough firepower against the big guns.
Fortunately for Cohuna, United have little pop.
Centre Taigan O’Shannassy is a star performer for the Demons and was best on court in last week’s interleague clash against Hoppers Crossing and shooter Taylen Blanchford also had a day out against the overmatched Melbourne outfit, but they receive little help on the local front.
Defence remains a problem as they concede about 56 goals per game.
Tip: Cohuna by 14 goals.
