By Nick Creely
AFL OUTER EAST AND WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL COMPETITION
REVIEW – AFL VICTORIA COMMUNITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
A strong home-court advantage proved too much for Outer East to handle in both the Open and Under 17 netball clashes on Saturday at QEO.
With plenty of reasons to be confident after both Yarra Ranges and SEFNL sides put on a show in the Open clash in the 2018 Championships, the mixture of talent from both regions made for a strong side on paper.
But the Bendigo Football Netball League were in command in the monster clash in front of a bumper crowd in sunny conditions, winning 55-40 and showcasing their impressive netballing talent in the region.
Despite fighting tooth and nail to stay in the contest all day, the Outer East girls eventually succumbed to the pressure and the electrifying ball movement of the home side to go down by 15-goals.
Under immense pressure from the start, Bendigo took a 12-6 quarter time lead, with Maddy Stewart on fire and Inogen Sexton and Chelsea Sartori superb in the defensive third.
But the Outer East girls fought back hard to enjoy a strong second-term, finding more space in attack and winning some crucial contests to be narrowly trailing 23-20.
But it was the second-half that the strong Bendigo team flexed their muscles, taking a 40-28 lead at three quarter time after a 17-8 third term, before running out the match strongly in what was a brilliant, consistent team effort.
Gisborne’s Stewart was deservingly named best on court after a dynamic display, while for Outer East, Seville’s Steph McNay was best on court, while Peri Stewart found 31 goals.
In the Under 17 clash prior to the Open game, Outer East also went down to a clinical Bendigo, 62-35, despite showing some good signs throughout the clash.
The home side had complete control but had to work hard to shake off a plucky Outer East outfit, going in to half-time with a comfortable 31-23 lead.
Despite enjoying a 13-goal third term to lead 44-31, the Bendigo girls couldn’t quite seal the deal with the visitors fighting hard to stay in the contest.
But a tiring Outer East finally succumbed to the pressure applied for the first three-quarters, conceding 18-goals to four in the final term to blow the margin out late.
Sensational all day for the home team, Chloe Langley was best on court for her performance, while for Outer East, Ellie Brasser (Berwick) grabbed best on court honours for her team.
Berwick’s Summah Hinchcliffe was in fine form and tried hard all day with 16-goals for the day.
A strong West Gippsland Open netball side, meanwhile, got the better of Ellinbank District in their AFL Victoria Community Championship clash at Dowton Park in Yarragon, 45-34.
The West Gippy girls had to shake off a spirited Ellinbank outfit, who managed to stay with the favourites in a hotly-contested first half which saw just four goals separate the two sides.It was the second-half in which West Gippsland flexed its muscle, scoring 24-17 to run out comfortable winners in the end, in what is a positive result for the competition.
Tooradin-Dalmore star Bec Kinna was indomitable in defence to be duly named best on court, showcasing her dynamic abilities in a standout display.
West Gippsland also enjoyed a strong result in the Under 17 clash to start off the day, winning comfortably by 20 goals, 41-21 against Ellinbank.
Similar to the Open match later in the afternoon, the junior stars had just too much class when it truly mattered, shaking off an opponent who refused to yield in the second-half with some electric netball that will have fans excited for the future.
Dalyston’s Grace McRae took out best on court honours in a tremendous performance.
With the interleague clashes done and dusted for another season, attention will now turn back to the incredibly even A Grade season that is evolving in West Gippsland.
With Tooradin-Dalmore, as expected, leading all sides with a perfect 7-0 record and two games clear on top, the race for the remaining four spots in the five.
A vastly-improved Bunyip currently sits in second spot with five wins next to its name, but all those remaining in the five (Dalyston, Korumburra-Bena and Inverloch Kongwak) sit on 16 points, with Nar Nar Goon and Kooweerup breathing down their necks in sixth and seventh respectively.
This round shapes as an absolutely beauty, with Tooradin-Dalmore and Inverloch Kongwak to do battle, while Bunyip and Korumburra-Bena also looms as a pivotal clash.
