By David Nagel
The two best teams in West Gippsland netball are set for a thrilling confrontation on Saturday when Inverloch-Kongwak rolls out the welcome mat for Tooradin-Dalmore.
Both teams have only tasted defeat once this year and sit two games clear of the chasing pack, with this week’s encounter set to provide the best hint yet as to the destination of this year’s premiership cup.
The Seagulls – Tooradin – were towelled up by Bunyip in a shock round-eight result, while the Sea Eagles – Inverloch – went down fighting by four goals the last time these two met in round seven.
But that’s it…no more blemishes for either side.
Tooradin will come in fresh, having back-to-back byes over the last fortnight, while the Sea Eagles tuned up for this week’s almighty battle with a comprehensive victory over Korumburra-Bena on Saturday.
The Sea Eagles were without their newest recruit and gun midcourter Kelsey Buxton, but were still way too strong for the Giants.
Ivy Hunter (C) joined Lanni Pryor (WA) and Rahni Mann (WD) in a midcourt combination that hardly missed a beat in Buxton’s absence, while the elite defensive pressure of Tayla Smith (GK) and Renee Pilkington (GD) ensured the Giants would not reach double figures in any quarter of the match.
The Sea Eagles’ 50-20 victory was built on the back of a 13-4 second term, and was polished off in impressive fashion with an 11-3 final quarter.
Kelly Boyd (GS) and Tayla Robb (GA) were accurate under the ring but will fully understand that the pressure is about to rise against Tooradin’s elite defence on the weekend.
The Giants were well served by Annelise Van Rooye (GK) in defence, while Gemma Dixon and Kasey Thorson shared their time alongside Van Rooye and the midcourt.
Phillip Island has virtually assured itself of a finals berth after a comfortable 45-30 victory over their nearest challenger Cora Lynn.
The sixth-placed Bulldogs are now three games and a healthy percentage clear of the Cobras, who will need a minor miracle to chase the Bulldogs down.
Phillip Island faces a tough test this week, hosting fifth-placed Nar Nar Goon, while the Cobras will secure an easy four points courtesy of the bye.
Bunyip has overcome a shaky start to roll Nar Nar Nar Goon 42-32 at Bunyip.
The Goon came out firing, with Hollie Keysers (GK), Hannah Carney (GD), Chantelle Dale (C) and Toni Dart (GS) leading the Goon to a 14-12 lead at quarter time.
But the Doggies bounced back in an instant, producing a dominant 17-7 second term to wrest back control of the contest.
Star-shooter Jasmine Mackie (GS) scored 13 goals in the second quarter alone, on the back of some great work-rate from the likes of Chloe Papley (WA), Sam Walker (GK) and Kyra Esler (GA).
The Goon showed in the first quarter it can match it with one of the best teams in the competition, but now needs to do for four quarters.
They can test that theory on a trip to Phillip Island this week, while Bunyip heads to Korumburra.
In other games this week, Garfield chalked up its second victory of the season with a well-deserved 68-38 triumph over Warragul Industrials.
The Stars last tasted success in round seven against Kooweerup, a team it will look to back-to-back against this weekend at Beswick Street.
The Dusties have now lost four in a row, and face a tough fortnight ahead against Dalyston and Nar Nar Goon.
And Dalyston continues to go quietly about its work, chalking up its fifth win from its last six starts with a 51-16 win over Kooweerup.
The Magpies are just a very steady unit that have only lost three games for the season, and will be a very tough finals opponent for any team in the top six.
The Magpies will continue their winning ways on a trip to Warragul this week, while the Demons head to Garfield still in search of their first victory.
WGFNC RESULTS – ROUND 13
A GRADE: Bunyip 42 v Nar Nar Goon 32, Dalyston 51 v Kooweerup 16, Garfield 68 v Warragul Industrials 38, Inverloch-Kongwak 50 v Korumburra-Bena 20, Phillip Island 45 v Cora Lynn 30, Tooradin-Dalmore 20 v Kilcunda-Bass 0.
B GRADE: Bunyip 43 v Nar Nar Goon 40, Dalyston 36 v Kooweerup 30, Garfield 72 v Warragul Industrials 30, Inverloch-Kongwak 58 v Korumburra-Bena 22, Phillip Island 59 v Cora Lynn 36, Tooradin-Dalmore 43 v Kilcunda-Bass 35.
C GRADE: Bunyip 35 v Nar Nar Goon 16, Dalyston 42 v Kooweerup 22, Garfield 54 v Warragul Industrials 13, Inverloch-Kongwak 54 v Korumburra-Bena 21, Phillip Island 35 v Cora Lynn 37, Tooradin-Dalmore 44 v Kilcunda-Bass 13.
D GRADE: Bunyip 26 v Nar Nar Goon 28, Dalyston 61 v Kooweerup 4, Phillip Island 24 v Cora Lynn 31, Tooradin-Dalmore 15 v Kilcunda-Bass 30.
17 UNDER: Bunyip 29 v Nar Nar Goon 19, Dalyston 56 v Kooweerup 16, Garfield 15 v Warragul Industrials 30, Inverloch-Kongwak 20 v Korumburra-Bena 42, Phillip Island 59 v Cora Lynn 22, Tooradin-Dalmore 41 v Kilcunda-Bass 18.
15 UNDER: Bunyip 15 v Nar Nar Goon 15, Dalyston 23 v Kooweerup 17, Garfield 0 v Warragul Industrials 20, Inverloch-Kongwak 26 v Korumburra-Bena 22, Phillip Island 32 v Cora Lynn 10, Tooradin-Dalmore 28 v Kilcunda-Bass 14.
13 UNDER: Bunyip 7 v Nar Nar Goon 30, Dalyston 1 v Kooweerup 50, Garfield 6 v Warragul Industrials 24, Inverloch-Kongwak 19 v Korumburra-Bena 14, Phillip Island 29 v Cora Lynn 16, Tooradin-Dalmore 41 v Kilcunda-Bass 4.
11 UNDER: Bunyip 1 v Nar Nar Goon 40, Dalyston 10 v Kooweerup 0, Phillip Island 13 v Cora Lynn 8, Tooradin-Dalmore 21 v Kilcunda-Bass 3.
WGFNC NETBALL LADDERS – ROUND 13
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch-Kongwak 12 1 0 668 316 211.39 48
Tooradin-Dalmore 12 1 0 578 397 145.59 48
Bunyip 10 3 0 713 417 170.98 40
Dalyston 10 3 0 490 343 142.86 40
Nar Nar Goon 9 4 0 549 472 116.31 36
Phillip Island 8 5 0 641 499 128.46 32
Cora Lynn 5 8 0 478 491 97.35 20
Korumburra Bena 5 8 0 435 506 85.97 20
Garfield 3 10 0 436 565 77.17 12
Warragul Industrials 3 10 0 451 731 61.70 12
Koo Wee Rup 1 12 0 288 730 39.45 4
Kilcunda Bass 0 13 0 0 260 0.00 0
B GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Tooradin-Dalmore 12 1 0 771 447 172.48 48
Bunyip 11 2 0 664 389 170.69 44
Phillip Island 11 2 0 684 486 140.74 44
Nar Nar Goon 10 3 0 634 395 160.51 40
Inverloch-Kongwak 10 3 0 607 407 149.14 40
Dalyston 8 5 0 606 540 112.22 32
Kilcunda Bass 4 9 0 530 578 91.70 16
Garfield 3 9 1 420 610 68.85 14
Cora Lynn 3 9 1 419 628 66.72 14
Korumburra Bena 2 10 1 429 599 71.62 10
Koo Wee Rup 2 10 1 371 602 61.63 10
Warragul Industrials 0 13 0 365 819 44.57 0
C GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Bunyip 13 0 0 563 183 307.65 52
Dalyston 11 2 0 482 298 161.74 44
Garfield 10 3 0 465 302 153.97 40
Inverloch-Kongwak 9 3 1 517 269 192.19 38
Nar Nar Goon 9 3 1 387 283 136.75 38
Cora Lynn 6 6 1 339 360 94.17 26
Phillip Island 6 7 0 378 357 105.88 24
Tooradin-Dalmore 4 8 1 293 332 88.25 18
Koo Wee Rup 4 9 0 259 403 64.27 16
Korumburra Bena 2 11 0 287 428 67.06 8
Kilcunda Bass 2 11 0 248 508 48.82 8
Warragul Industrials 0 13 0 192 687 27.95 0
D GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch-Kongwak 10 0 0 435 173 251.45 40
Bunyip 9 2 0 459 207 221.74 36
Dalyston 9 2 0 462 212 217.92 36
Nar Nar Goon 8 3 0 394 226 174.34 32
Kilcunda Bass 5 6 0 297 316 93.99 20
Tooradin-Dalmore 4 6 0 246 358 68.72 16
Garfield 3 7 0 227 317 71.61 12
Cora Lynn 2 9 0 223 362 61.60 8
Koo Wee Rup 2 9 0 181 484 37.40 8
Phillip Island 1 9 0 177 406 43.60 4
Korumburra Bena 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
Warragul Industrials 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
17 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Dalyston 13 0 0 631 226 279.20 52
Korumburra Bena 12 1 0 517 249 207.63 48
Phillip Island 11 2 0 652 324 201.23 44
Inverloch-Kongwak 9 4 0 525 302 173.84 36
Bunyip 7 6 0 417 368 113.32 28
Tooradin-Dalmore 7 6 0 412 382 107.85 28
Cora Lynn 6 7 0 362 378 95.77 24
Koo Wee Rup 5 8 0 300 387 77.52 20
Nar Nar Goon 3 10 0 323 443 72.91 12
Kilcunda Bass 3 10 0 295 490 60.20 12
Warragul Industrials 2 11 0 234 579 40.41 8
Garfield 0 13 0 126 666 18.92 0
15 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Phillip Island 12 1 0 442 207 213.53 48
Inverloch-Kongwak 12 1 0 348 187 186.10 48
Korumburra Bena 10 3 0 357 245 145.71 40
Bunyip 9 3 1 338 209 161.72 38
Dalyston 8 5 0 264 276 95.65 32
Nar Nar Goon 7 5 1 301 257 117.12 30
Koo Wee Rup 5 8 0 273 302 90.40 20
Kilcunda Bass 5 8 0 230 301 76.41 20
Tooradin-Dalmore 4 9 0 251 287 87.46 16
Warragul Industrials 3 10 0 252 382 65.97 12
Cora Lynn 2 11 0 199 342 58.19 8
Garfield 0 13 0 0 260 0.00 0
13 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Phillip Island 12 1 0 457 149 306.71 48
Nar Nar Goon 11 2 0 385 142 271.13 44
Koo Wee Rup 11 2 0 398 179 222.35 44
Cora Lynn 9 3 1 302 156 193.59 38
Warragul Industrials 9 4 0 306 204 150.00 36
Tooradin-Dalmore 7 5 1 214 146 146.58 30
Inverloch-Kongwak 6 7 0 188 204 92.16 24
Korumburra Bena 4 7 2 196 205 95.61 20
Garfield 3 10 0 148 303 48.84 12
Dalyston 3 10 0 70 294 23.81 12
Kilcunda Bass 1 12 0 85 405 20.99 4
Bunyip 0 13 0 60 422 14.22 0
11 UNDER W L D F A % PTS
Nar Nar Goon 11 0 0 321 31 1035.0 44
Inverloch-Kongwak 9 1 0 198 49 404.08 36
Tooradin-Dalmore 8 2 0 114 56 203.57 32
Dalyston 7 4 0 111 72 154.17 28
Phillip Island 6 3 1 126 112 112.50 26
Kilcunda Bass 4 7 0 79 150 52.67 16
Koo Wee Rup 3 7 1 66 139 47.48 14
Cora Lynn 3 8 0 75 158 47.47 12
Bunyip 1 10 0 65 214 30.37 4
Garfield 0 10 0 24 178 13.48 0
Korumburra Bena 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
Warragul Industrials 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0
