By David Nagel
Back-to-back reigning-champion Inverloch-Kongwak has fired a final warning shot to the remainder of the competition with a fast-starting 51-42 victory over Nar Nar Goon on Saturday.
Heading into the one v two contest the Sea Eagles had defeated every other team in the competition; needing a win over the Goon to make it 11-straight wins and sit three games clear at the top of the table.
And by quarter time the game was effectively dead as a contest.
The Sea Eagles came out firing; scoring a game-high 15 goals in the first quarter and keeping Nar Nar Goon to just five.
Amity McInnes (GK) and superstar Renee Pilkington (GD) gave nothing away at the defensive end of the court, while the pressure accumulated by Ivy Hunter (WD), Kate French (C) and Lanni Pryor (WA) became overwhelming for the Goon through the midcourt.
And Kelly Boyd (GS) and Ella Sadler (GA) spread the load perfectly in the goal-circle with seven and eight goals respectively.
The Sea Eagles then built their 15-5 lead to 29-15 by half time; almost doubling Nar Nar Goon’s score.
Nar Nar Goon finished the game off well, outscoring Inverloch 27-22 after half time…but the damage had well and truly been done.
Goon players Taylah Ellis (GD), Steph Lee (GA) and Taylah Boatwood (GK) will take some positive vibes into this week’s home clash against Bunyip, while the Sea Eagles head to Denhams Road to take on Kooweerup.
Dalyston has climbed its way back to second place on the ladder with a 39-35 victory over Cora Lynn at the Cobradome.
The Magpies led 11-9 at quarter time and appeared a clear winner of the contest after a dominant 14-8 second term.
But the Cobras fought back hard, scoring 9-4 in the third quarter to trail by just three at the final break.
With Ruby Brosnan (C) and Gemma Thomas (GK) playing fine last quarters for the Magpies, they won it 10-9 to walk away with a well-deserved four points.
Cora Lynn has now dropped out of the top six after losing four of its last five matches.
Kooweerup has taken Cora Lynn’s place in the top six after a hard-fought 60-52 win over Garfield at Beswick Street.
The Demons were behind by four and one at the first two breaks before rectifying things with an 18-11 third term.
The dynamic duo of Jayda McConkey (GS) and Ash Murphy (GA) changed the momentum for the visitors, while Kate Sidebottom (C) really got rolling through the midcourt.
Garfield coach Donna Marsh will be happy with the start and ending; but the Stars were comprehensively outplayed through the middle stages of the match.
Ash Hyde (GK) and Ash Bowden (GD) defended well for large portions of the match.
Tooradin-Dalmore is now on a three-game winning streak, celebrating Sarah Howie’s 100th game for the club with a 60-51 victory over Korumburra-Bena.
Howie (C) was at her brilliant best through the midcourt when the Seagulls opened the game up with an 18-10 third quarter.
Long-time teammates of Howie in Jess Maher (GD) and Ebony Dolan (GK) were also influential figures for the Gulls, while Pallas Lamers (GK) and Gemma Dixon (GD) defended whole-heartedly for the Giants.
In other games this week, Kilcunda-Bass moved to third place on the ladder with a 66-28 victory over bottom-placed Warragul Industrials, while Bunyip secured its second win for the season with a strong performance against Phillip Island.
Bunyip took control of the contest through the middle stages, outscoring Phillip Island 26-15 in the second and third quarters, on their way to a 46-37 triumph.
Brooke Cleeland (GS) set things up for Bunyip with 37 goals for the winners.
Fiona Burns (GD), Jess Drazzi (GA) and Nat Dijkstra (WD) were also key figures in the Bulldogs best performance of the season.
