By David Nagel
A rough month of July has ended in spectacular fashion for Nar Nar Goon after a drought-breaking 45-44 victory over Tooradin-Dalmore at Spencer Street on Saturday.
The Goon – coming off a four-game losing streak – took on a Seagulls’ outfit that had climbed to second on the ladder on the back of six straight wins.
But it became clear early that this would be no one-sided affair.
Tooradin-Dalmore led by two at the first break, with Chloe Phillips (GS) and Alex Maher (GA) in fine form in the circle, while Darcy Utber (GA) and Steph Lee (GS) were keeping the Goon in the contest at the opposite end of the court.
The Goon tied things up at half time with a 12-10 second term, before marching clear in a strong third-quarter performance.
After sitting out the first half, Meaghan Winter (C) provided a fresh set of legs through the midcourt, proving a vital cog through the middle-third alongside Chantelle Dale (WD) and Olivia Hamilton (WA).
The Goon led by three at the final break, and weathered a strong comeback from the Gulls to prevail by a solitary goal.
The Goon, now fifth, should win its last two games against Garfield and Phillip Island and can sew up a finals berth when it welcomes Cora Lynn to Spencer Street this week.
Tooradin, who has now slipped to third, will win its next two against Garfield and Bunyip before a last-round shootout with Dalyston.
The game against the Magpies will decide whether the Gulls start their finals campaign from second or third place on the ladder.
Powerful second and fourth quarters have powered back-to-back reigning champions Inverloch-Kongwak to a low-scoring 33-21 victory over Cora Lynn.
The Sea Eagles only led by one goal at quarter time, but an 8-2 second stanza gave them a healthy seven-goal lead at half time.
Cora Lynn cut the margin back to six at the final break, but a 10-4 final thrust saw the champions race away with victory.
Regular stars Renee Pilkington (GD), Lanni Pryor (WA) and Amity McInnes (GK) were sensational for the winners, while Cora Lynn defenders Annabel Sheppard (GK) and Danielle Cameron (GD) did well to restrict Inverloch to its lowest score for the season.
The Cobras, now seventh, can climb back into the top six with a win over Nar Nar Goon this week.
The Sea Eagles host Kilcunda-Bass in a clash of the top-two teams on the ladder.
In other games, Dalyston made it win-loss-win-loss-win over its last five games with a 55-37 win over Bunyip, while Korumburra-Bena kept its finals hopes alive with a comfortable 62-35 victory over Garfield.
Kilcunda-Bass, meanwhile, has moved to second place on the ladder after a 47-34 triumph over Kooweerup.
The Panthers hit the ground running; opening up a nine-goal first-quarter lead with a 13-4 blitz.
The rest of the match was fairly even, but the early play of Kacey Maund (C), Caitlin Egan (GK), Grace Frand (WA) and Tamika De Nardis (GS) put the Demons on the back foot.
Ash Murphy, Chantelle Stokkel and Kate Sidebottom were all good for Koowee after quarter time.
And we finish this week’s report with some great news for Warragul Industrials, who scored their first win of the season with a 66-48 victory over Phillip Island.
Things were up for grabs at half time, with scores locked at 27-each; but the Dusties put their heads down and made their charge in the third term.
Everything clicked for the Dusties; from Tash Green (GK) and Jessie Wyatt (GD) in defence, to Holly Cheyne (WA), Brooke Weatherhead (C) and Steph Warburton (WD) through the midcourt; while Hannah Finemore (GS) and Shaylee Wilson (GA) had a field day in the goal circle.
Finnemore had a day out; scoring 56 of her teams 66 goals alone, while Wilson caused carnage with some creative passing.
The Dusties scored 39 to 21 after half time; and enjoyed the ride home to the final whistle.
