A BURST of eight unanswered goals in the opening minutes has helped Kerang maintain their place in the Central Murray top three.
The Blues’ fast start stunned Cohuna, who were also fighting for their finals future, with Kerang holding a nine-goal to one lead after just nine minutes before the Kangas responded to trail by five goals at the first change.
Cohuna continued to chip away at Kerang’s lead for the remainder of the match, before the Blues finished with a three goal burst in the dying minutes to give them a 38-33 win.
It was the Blues’ 12th win of the season, with percentage all that separates Koondrook-Barham, Kerang and Woorinen heading into the final round of the home-and-away season.
Kerang’s Denise Roberts led the scoring for the Blues with 25 goals, while teammate Katelyn Wright was also among the Blues’ better players with 13 goals.
While Kerang’s finals future is within their own hands with just one round to go, the Kangas will be relying on other results to go their way, along with securing percentage boosting win over Lake Boga if they are to climb into the top five this weekend.
Although pleased with her team’s performance, Cohuna coach Georgia Anderson was still left to lament a few key errors from her side, especially late in the game.
“It was another great game and it could have been anyone’s once we got our groove on,” Anderson said.
“It was close the whole way and it was only right at the end that we let it slip.
“We’re a bit flat because we definitely felt like we could have won, but it was our own errors and mistakes that cost us.
“Kerang have strong goalers and a strong defence and they were consistent all day, but we still felt like it was a game we could have taken away.
“Chloe (Adams) is a fabulous coach and you can see in their structures that she embeds a lot of confidence in her team and they proved their position on the ladder.
“As much as we’re flat, I still have to reflect on how far we have come as a club and a team as this is the best netball we’ve seen from our A Grade and we’re not far off those top teams now, in fact we’ve been right with them the last two weeks.
“Whether it’s too late or not, I’m very proud and it’s reassuring to know what we are capable of.”
Goal defence Marli Easton was named best on court for Cohuna, with Carly Geary and Carla Walker also among the Kangas’ better players.
Cohuna will host Lake Boga in a must-win game for the Kangas this Saturday, while Kerang will travel to Greenham Park to play Balranald in a match they too must win in order to finish in the top three and earn the vital double chance.
FINAL WHISTLE
| KERANG | 38 |
|---|---|
| COHUNA | 33 |
