By David Nagel
An absorbing three-way battle for second place on the ladder and a coveted double chance highlights a thrilling final round of West Gippsland netball on Saturday.
Bunyip, currently second, heads to Dalyston this week with both teams locked on 14 wins for the season…two wins behind an outstanding Inverloch-Kongwak outfit in first place.
If Bunyip wins, second place is assured courtesy of a very healthy percentage.
But if Dalyston wins narrowly…the door opens slightly for reigning-premier Tooradin-Dalmore to snatch that crucial second-place position.
The Seagulls, also on 14 wins, take on bottom-team Kooweerup, and will need something special in the order of an 80-10 victory to keep their slender double-chance hopes alive.
There’s no doubt the calculators will be out if Dalyston manage the win over Bunyip!
Dalyston tuned up for the big clash against the Bulldogs with an impressive 47-32 victory over Garfield on Saturday.
The Magpies had Alana and Hannah McRae sitting on the sidelines but still managed to shake the Stars, who had won three of their last four games.
With Bella Schmidt (GS) dominating the circle, and Chloe Bramley and Grace McRae running rampant through the midcourt, the black and white’s opened up a 14-7 lead at quarter time.
That lead extended to 28-15 half-way through the contest before the Magpies cruised home to victory.
Gemma Thomas (GD) and Olivia Bramley (GK) were also effective for the winners, while Tyla Redwood (Ga), Bec Van Rossen (GS) and Isabel Marsh (WD) tried the hearts out for the Stars.
Garfield is now finished for the season, having the Kilcunda-Bass bye this week, but will take plenty of impetus into 2023 after its recent run of form.
The closest match of round 17 took place at Tooradin, where the Seagulls were pushed to the limit by a dangerous Nar Nar Goon.
The Seagulls eventually prevailed, 47-45, but both teams will take plenty away from the contest.
The Gulls are not as dominant as previous seasons but have put together another fabulous campaign, while the Goon will take more confidence from this performance than any other this season.
This is the closest the Goon has got to a top-four team…and we’ll find out more about their credentials when they host premiership favourite Inverloch this Saturday.
Get close, or win, and the Goon girls will take a tidal-wave of confidence into this year’s finals series.
The challenge will be tough for the Goon this week with Inverloch-Kongwak once again showing its class with a 69-18 thumping of Warragul Industrials.
Coach Jarrad Walker has the Sea Eagles purring like a well-oiled machine at the moment, with the absence of star-goaler Kelly Boyd proving no obstacle against the Dusties.
Ella Sadler filled the GS breach perfectly, scoring 36 goals, while Tayla Robb (GA) was at her damaging best with 33.
Kelsey Buxton, Lanni Pryor, Rahni Mann and Renee Pilkington all had a run through the midcourt, while Tayla Smith (GK) sat back and enjoyed the show.
Ebony Proctor (GD) and Steph Keeble (GK) did well under pressure for the Dusties, while Laurie Meaker (GS) will take some good form into this week’s home clash against Cora Lynn after scoring six goals in the final quarter.
Bunyip has made it six wins on the trot with a comfortable 40-22 victory over Phillip Island at Bunyip.
Amongst those victims have been Dalyston, Nar Nar Goon and Tooradin-Dalmore, proving the Bulldogs are in good form and right in the mix for this year’s flag.
Phillip Island, on the other hand, is limping its way toward finals having lost four consecutive games.
The Islanders will look to find form and bounce back to the winners’ list on a road-trip to Korumburra this week.
And Cora Lynn has continued its steady and consistent season with a 49-34 victory over Kooweerup.
The Cobras are still a mathematical chance of playing finals, but would need to crush the Dusties this week and hope Korumburra-Bena can do a number on Phillip Island.
Both results are unlikely, but the Cobras have done well to even be in that conversation at this time of year.
Injuries have cruelled their season and coach Allan Douglas will be mighty proud of his team when he packs away his notepad on Saturday night.
Korumburra-Bena had the bye.
West Gippsland Netball scoreboard
A GRADE: Bunyip 40 v Phillip Island 22, Cora Lynn 49 v Kooweerup 34, Garfield 32 v Dalyston 47, Korumburra-Bena 20 v Kilcunda-Bass 0, Tooradin-Dalmore 47 v Nar Nar Goon 45, Warragul Industrials 18 v Inverloch-Kongwak 69.
LADDERS
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch-Kongwak 16 1 0 878 387 226.87 64
Bunyip 14 3 0 878 494 177.73 56
Dalyston 14 3 0 691 490 141.02 56
Tooradin-Dalmore 14 3 0 757 592 127.87 56
Nar Nar Goon 12 5 0 782 622 125.72 48
Phillip Island 8 9 0 784 704 111.36 32
Cora Lynn 7 10 0 617 619 99.68 28
Korumburra Bena 7 10 0 577 623 92.62 28
Garfield 5 12 0 590 753 78.35 20
Warragul Industrials 4 13 0 596 978 60.94 16
Koo Wee Rup 1 16 0 406 954 42.56 4
Kilcunda Bass 0 17 0 0 340 0.00 0
