By RUSSELL BENNETT
Ellinbank and District Netball preview – semi finals
THIS is it… the next chapter in the clash of the EDNA titans – Poowong versus Ellinbank. First versus second. Last year’s defeated grand finalist with a major point to prove versus the champion.
The Magpies and Eagles met twice in last year’s finals series and split the honours between them.
Poowong won the second semi-final in an absolute nail-biter, 38-37, but the Bankers got their revenge, cruising to grand final victory in emphatic fashion, 47-22.
When the two sides meet this Saturday at Nar Nar Goon, again in a second semi-final, there won’t be a lot the combatants don’t yet know about each other.
Sarah Hogan will look to assert her dominance for the Magpies while Candace Page and Nicole Vamplew promise to have another decisive impact on the scoresheet.
For Ellinbank – it’s the usual, proven, premiership-winning suspects led by Amy Hodge that Poowong will be looking to shut down.
Will the pain of last year’s decider spur the Maggies to victory or will the Bankers again show they have what it takes to get the job done at the business end of the year?
Expect yet another nailbiter with Poowong to replicate last year’s semi-final form and win another thriller.
The other semi-final match-up at Catani, pitting the third-placed Nar Nar Goon against the fourth-placed Bunyip, looks just as enticing.
The Goon takes a clear form advantage into the contest but the Bulldogs’ ability to fight their way to victory should hold them in good stead as they look to advance.
Kathryn Williams is in red-hot form but she’ll need to continue that in order counteract the awesome defensive presence that is Ebony Mumford.
Expect Christie Edwards and Claire Ablett to also play huge roles with the Goon to go on and win by seven goals.
