Catch them if you can

Bec Kinna looks to pinpoint a pass against the Sea Eagles. 193857 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Russell Bennett

WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL COMPETITION

REVIEW – ROUND 7

The two powerhouse A Grade sides of the first two seasons of the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition loom as the biggest threat to Tooradin-Dalmore after the first seven completed rounds of the season.

But the undefeated Seagulls are still soaring over the chasing pack through their first eight games.

Dalyston and Korumburra-Bena both continue to make their charge, with both enjoying victories on Saturday.

But the Magpies hardly had it all their own way over an impressive Cobras outfit at Cora Lynn.

Dalyston got the early jump, leading 15-7 at the end of the first, but the Cobras responded in style – leveling the scores at 24-24 by the main break.

It wasn’t until the final quarter that the quality of the visiting outfit shone through definitively as the Magpies came away with a hard-fought 14-goal win, 56-42.

The Giants, meanwhile, got the better of Bunyip at the showgrounds.

The home side held a narrow advantage at the end of the first, but grew that margin in each quarter from that point on – ultimately claiming a comfortable 24-goal win, 59-35, despite 30 goals from Bunyip’s Jasmin Mackie.

The Yips went into Round 7 in second on the ladder – a game clear of the trio of Dalyston, Korumburra-Bena, and Inverloch Kongwak.

But after Saturday’s results, they’re back in third – level with the Pies and Giants.

Tooradin-Dalmore’s grip on top spot remains as tight as ever after a double-digit win at home over Inverloch Kongwak – 46-25.

The Seagulls entered the competition after a dominant stint in the now-defunct SEFNL, and their reign at the top doesn’t look like ending any time soon.

What they’ve made abundantly clear through their form so far is that any other aspirants to the thrown will have to go through them along the way.

Elsewhere across the round, Nar Nar Goon proved far too strong for the Phillip Island in Cowes – storming to a dominant 64-30 win off the back of a 20-goal to five opening quarter.

The result has the Goon sitting in fifth – just a game and percentage behind the three sides above them, and well and truly within striking distance.

In what proved to be the game of the round, the Dusties recorded a hard-fought three-goal win over the hometown Demons at Denhams Road, 45-42.

In a truly neck-and-neck battle, the scores were tied at the end of the first quarter – 13-13 – before the Demons edged their noses in front by just two goals at the main break.

But the Industrials weren’t to be denied – grinding out a thrilling win in enemy territory. In the wake of the result, both sides sit just a game and percentage outside of the top five in what is truly a fiercely-contested A Grade competition.

In the final game of the round, Kilcunda Bass proved too strong at home for Garfield – securing a 15-goal win, 41-26.

This weekend, Tooradin-Dalmore hosts Bunyip in what looms as a fascinating battle, while Inverloch Kongwak hosts Kooweerup in a clash that also holds plenty of intrigue.

Dalyston will also face off against Phillip Island, while Kilcunda Bass hosts Korumburra-Bena and Garfield hosts Cora Lynn.

On Sunday, Nar Nar Goon heads to Western Park to face the Warragul Industrials.