By David Nagel
Bibs were swapped more than a ‘baby-shower’ at three-quarter time at Tooradin on Saturday as a last-quarter revival propelled Tooradin-Dalmore to one of its best wins of the season; a 36-31 victory over a brave Cora Lynn.
The Gulls led by two at the first break, but were stunned by the visitors who scored 12 to 8 in the second term to take a two-goal lead to half time.
Only 11 combined goals were scored in the third stanza as both teams lifted their defensive pressure rating.
The Cobras led 24-23 at the final break; but the home side had something special up its sleeve.
Coach Kelly Haynes swung the changes at three-quarter time, with Summah Boyd (GD) the only player to start the fourth term in the same position that she ended the third!
The changes worked wonders, with a 13-7 last term leading the Gulls to victory.
Chloe Phillips, Alex Maher, Ebony Dolan, Stacey Sawyer and Zoe Coventry were all instrumental in that last quarter surge.
After a sluggish start to the season; the Gulls are now firmly entrenched in second position after winning six in a row.
Kooweerup is finally in control of its own destiny after the Demons sent Nar Nar Goon tumbling outside the top six with a desperate and dour 38-35 victory at Denhams Road.
It’s hard to imagine worse conditions for netball, but the Demons and Goon overcame the drizzling rain and freezing cold to provide a mid-winter see-sawing battle.
Kooweerup led 10-8 at quarter time, but the Goon returned fire with an 11-8 second term to lead by one at half time.
The Demons then took back control in the third quarter, with Mikaela Stokkel (GK), Talia Charalambides (GD), Chantelle Stokkel (WD) and Alix Galante (C) working hard defensively to limit the Goon’s scoring options.
Jayda McConkey (GS), Ash Murphy (GA) and Kate Sidebottom (WA) were also calm and composed for the Demons, who set up their fifth-position at the end of the round with a 10-6 third term.
That’s seven wins from nine starts for the Demons, while Nar Nar Goon is heading in the opposite direction after its fourth-consecutive loss.
The Goon – now seventh – needs to regroup, and do it in a hurry, with upcoming home games against Tooradin-Dalmore (2nd) and Cora Lynn (6th) likely to decide its finals destiny.
Bunyip’s three-game winning streak has come to an end at the hands of Kilcunda-Bass at Bunyip.
The visiting Panthers led 8-7 at quarter time, but opened the game up with a dominant 19-8 second term.
Tamika De Nardis (GS) was the game-breaker for the Panthers – scoring 13 goals in the second – while the play of Kacey Maund (C), Sophie Baker (WD), Grace Rand (WA) and Caity Stephens (GK) proved too much for the Bulldogs to handle.
Bunyip’s Brooke Cleeland (GS) and Ally Johnson (C) really took things up to the Panthers in the opening exchanges.
The seven-game losing streak of Garfield is finally over after the Stars won a classic contest; 46-42, against Phillip Island at Beswick Street.
The Stars looked comfortable at quarter time; leading 13-9 at the first break, but were soon stunned by a 15-6 retort from the Bulldogs.
The Stars cut the five-goal margin back to one at the final break, and then put the foot down further to edge clear for an impressive victory.
Georgia Coleman (GA), Ash Bowden (C) and Tyla Redwood (WA) played huge roles in the Stars’ revival, while Lily Mewett (GS) was sensational for the beaten Bulldogs; scoring 12 goals alone in the second quarter.
In other games this week, Korumburra-Bena kept its finals hopes alive with a comfortable 59-32 victory over Warragul Industrials, while second and third-quarter dominance led Inverloch-Kongwak to a 47-42 win over Dalyston.
The Magpies won the opening and last quarters – 21-16 – but the back-to-back reigning champions more than matched that total through the middle stages of the contest.
With Amy Scott (GS) running hot, and Lanni Pryor (WA), Kelsey Buxton (C), Asha Boyd and Kate French (WD) doing as they pleased through the midcourt, the Sea Eagles scored 31-21, either side of half time, to set up their five-goal victory.
Bitt Thomas (WA), Olivia Bramley (GD) and Bella Schmidt (GS) never gave up for the Magpies.
