By Russell Bennett
WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL COMPETITION
REVIEW – ROUND 4 (SPLIT ROUND)
Tooradin-Dalmore has maintained its rampaging start to life back in official West Gippsland circles.
The Seagulls remain undefeated through their first five games in each of the top three grades – A Grade, B Grade, and C Grade – following the weekend’s play.
Both their star-power and depth were much-revered throughout their time in the now-defunct South East Football Netball League (SEFNL), and their impressive trademarks have continued into their first season of their new WGFNC era.
The Gulls’ A Graders were too strong on Anzac Day at home against the Warragul Industrials – breaking clear over the final three quarters to ultimately win by 21 goals, 62-41. The clash was deadlocked at the end of the first quarter, but the Gulls showed their class to edge clear, and ultimately put the visitors to the sword.
Kilcunda Bass, meanwhile, was powerless to stop Dalyston.
Jenny McRae’s outfit conceded just a miserly 15 goals in a clinical 34-goal win, 49-15. In fact, the Panthers didn’t reach double figures until the final quarter and scored just five total goals in the first half.
Bunyip, meanwhile, proved far too strong against the Stars in Garfield – storming to a 55-goal win, 78-23, off the back of an imposing shooting performance by Jasmin Mackie (58 goals).
At Spencer Street, the Cobras impressed in their endeavour against the Goon, but in the end the hometown side had the answers right when they needed them most en route to a hard-fought 14-goal win, 58-44.
The Cobras trailed by just three goals at quarter-time and kept pace with the Goon for large parts of what was an entertaining back-and-forth contest.
One of the more intriguing clashes of Round 4 pitted the Sea Eagles against the Giants at Inverloch, and the contest lived up to the hype.
The Giants led by the barest of margins at the end of the first, and gradually increased their advantage as the game progressed – ultimately securing a 16-goal victory, 54-38.
Back on the opening day’s play of the Round 4 split round, Kooweerup emerged victorious in impressive style over Phillip Island at Cowes – winning 43-32.
Mariah Bell netted 35 goals for the visitors, while they also stood strong on the defensive end of the court – conceding just seven goals in the first quarter, and 12 for the entire first half against a new-look Bulldogs side.
In the other game of day one, Dalyston awoke from a slow start at Inverloch to claim a 12-goal win, 47-35.
The powerhouse Magpies trailed by four goals at the end of the first, and still by a goal at half-time, but their class ultimately shone through despite the best efforts of the likes of Meg Evans (25 goals).
On the interleague front, the WGFNC has named its two sides (17-and-under, and Open) to compete against the neighbouring Ellinbank and District Netball Association in Yarragon.
The 17-and-under side, coached by Jenny McRae, will include: Natalia Dijkstra (Bunyip); Gemma Thomas, Grace McRae, and Chloe Bramley (Dalyston); Sophie White (Garfield); Lanni Pryor, Rahni Mann, and Ella Sadler (Inverloch Kongwak); and Ester Evans and Maddie Smith from Korumburra-Bena.
The Open side, coached by Donna Marsh, will include: Bunyip’s Jasmin Mackie; Cora Lynn’s Gemma Stacey and Karla Brook; Dalyston’s Alana McRae and Brit Thomas; Garfield’s Paris Toner; Kooweerup’s Jaymee Eastwood; Tooradin-Dalmore’s Bronte Evans and Bec Kinna; and the Warragul Industrials’ Ella Spencer.
