By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT NETBALL ASSOCIATION
REVIEW – ROUND 10
ELLINBANK green-stamped its premiership credentials once again on Saturday with an impressive 41-28 home win over one of the league’s rising-star teams, Catani.
The Bankers kept the Blues to just seven goals in the first quarter, and talented scorers Hinemoa Collier and Georgi Williams to 14 goals apiece for the game.
Jasmine Ferguson and wing defence Lauren Sheehan were outstanding for the home side, which capitalised on a 23-14 lead at half-time, while Teagan Winduss netted 25 goals. By contrast, Danielle Hanley and Allyson Hook were two of Catani’s better performers.
Buln Buln recorded an impressive victory of its own on Saturday – a thrilling one-goal triumph over Poowong at the Lyrebirds’ nest, 40-39.
Renee Cook, Laine Eastwell (19 goals) and Kirrilly Bridger were again instrumental for the home side, which was pushed all the way by the likes of Jaime Perry (24 goals), Lisa Quaife and their Magpies team mates.
In what was another gripping contest in a round seemingly full of them, the Dusties narrowly overcame Lang Lang 46-43 at Western Park.
Renalle Casey’s girls were gallant in defeat, but the Dusties’ shooting combination of Laurie Meaker (20 goals) and Lara Commadeur (26) proved just that bit much to handle.
The remaining three clashes of the round were nowhere near as tight.
While Cora Lynn pushed the Goon for much of the first quarter, the likes of Grace Keysers were outstanding in defence over the remainder of the contest as the visitors ran away with a 61-30 win.
Lexie Riley and Georgia Keysers continue to make a real impact with outstanding link-up play, while debutante Eden Evans played with a real confidence far exceeding her experience at the top level. Meg Evans, meanwhile, was a practically unstoppable force with 50 goals.
The early going of Bunyip’s home matchup with Nyora also went goal-for-goal, with the visitors making an early impact on the offensive end of the court.
But once the highly-fancied Bunyip settled into the game the difference in class between the two sides quickly became obvious.
In the absence of Lisa Proctor, Aimee Wright was given the nod at wing attack – a role she performed with aplomb. Claire Ablett was moved into the middle and Rebecca Kinna into goals in the second half and the moves worked perfectly, with Bunyip piling on 53 goals over the remainder of the contest to storm away with a percentage-boosting 87-19 win. Kinna and Taylah Roberts displayed outstanding shooting touch with 31 and 38 goals respectively.
In the other game of the round, Nilma Darnum was no match for Kooweerup with the Demons coming away with a big 62-32 win.
Still undefeated, Kooweerup will face Cora Lynn this week while Bunyip’s battle with Nar Nar Goon and Ellinbank’s with Lang Lang highlight Round-11 action. In the remaining games, Neerim South hosts Poowong, Longwarry takes on Nyora, and Nilma Darnum hosts Buln Buln.
