By David Nagel
The top-six teams in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition will rest a little easier after all banked a valuable four points ahead of this week’s league-wide bye.
Dalyston will be extra-refreshed when the courts spring back to action on July 9, having the Kilcunda-Bass bye on Saturday…but for the other contenders it was the perfect opportunity to make a statement and get that little bit closer to guaranteed finals action.
One team right in the thick of this year’s premiership race is Bunyip, who continued its fine season to date with an emphatic 62-34 victory over a rapidly-improving Cora Lynn.
The Bulldogs looked fantastic in the early stages of the first quarter, with explosive types like Ally Johnson (C), Chloe Papley (WA) and Jess Fowler (WD) playing some vibrant and attractive netball, while Sam Walker (GK) and Olivia Hunt (GD) were keeping a close eye on the Cobras’ dangerous combination in goals.
Kyra Esler (GA) roamed the attacking third in impressive style, while Jasmin Mackie (GS) was in dominant form for Bunyip under the ring.
Mackie was clearly struggling with an ailment, which looked to be back related, but it didn’t stop her from scoring 13 goals in the first quarter.
After a sluggish start, Cora Lynn did find some form towards quarter time, with Bianca Douglas (GS) and Gemma Stacey (GA) working hard to find some chinks in the Walker-Hunt defensive unit.
Douglas pulled in some impressive rebounds, with one sandwiched between both defenders a particular highlight.
Douglas had a big day, with the multiple best-and-fairest winner being the only current-day player to earn a spot in the Cobras’ best team of the last 20 years on Saturday night.
Bunyip gradually built its lead until three-quarter time before pulling away with a 17-6 final term.
Mackie left the court in the third quarter and didn’t return.
Bunyip, third, host fifth-placed Nar Nar Goon in a huge game in round 13, while the Cobras will look to keep their finals hopes alive when they travel to Phillip Island.
It’s clear cut…win and they’re a chance, but lose and they’re totally out of finals contention!
Tooradin-Dalmore has two weeks to ready itself for a run home to finals after the Seagulls were pushed hard before scoring a 36-29 victory over Korumburra-Bena.
The Seagulls have back-to-back byes – with Kilcunda-Bass scheduled for next round – so should be refreshed and raring to go when they do return to play on July 16.
The Seagulls have been staggeringly consistent for so long, with one loss this season against Bunyip proving they are still a force to be reckoned with.
After their back-to-back byes they face Inverloch-Kongwak – at Inverloch – in what shapes as a pre-cursor to this year’s grand final.
Korumburra-Bena looked ready to drop away through the early rounds of the season but has since regained its super-competitive streak.
The Giants take on Inverloch in round 13…who completely dominated the top versus bottom clash against Kooweerup on Saturday.
Inverloch was supreme in every aspect on the court, breaking its 82-points into scores of 20, 24, 18 and 20 across four quarters, while keeping the Demons to two, seven, three and four (16).
The Sea Eagles midcourt of Kelsey Buxton, Lanni Pryor and Rahni Mann was magnificent from the opening whistle, while Abbey Rimkevicus (GS) was in superb touch with 28 goals in the first half alone.
The Sea Eagles are in their natural state right now – flying – with Tayla Smith (GK) and Renee Pilkington (GD) once again dominant figures in defence.
All of the Demons gave their all, with Logan Dickson (C), Jayda McConkey (GA) and Mikaela Stokkel (GD) doing their very best to stay in touch with a genuine premiership threat.
The Demons head to Dalyston in round 13.
Nar Nar Goon has ended a two-game losing streak with a hard-fought 51-41 victory over Garfield at Spencer Street.
The Goon had a reality check against Tooradin and Inverloch over the previous fortnight, but remain a team that could cause some serious damage come finals time.
Players like Ash Coombes, Chantelle Dale, Hannah Carney and Karly Meinecke have been great for the Goon this year, and will sense an opportunity to go deep into what’s set to be a very exciting finals series.
Their next up game against Bunyip will tell us a lot more about their chances.
Garfield was really competitive on Saturday – almost a best-of-the-season performance – and the Stars have a great chance to bank more wins in home games against Warragul Industrials and Kooweerup after the bye.
And sixth-placed Phillip Island is now two games and percentage clear of seventh-placed Cora Lynn after a 73-32 win over the Dusties at Warragul.
On paper the Bulldogs appear good things to play finals, but games against Cora Lynn, Nar Nar Goon, Dalyston, Tooradin, Bunyip and Korumburra will certainly test them out in the run home.
The Dusties will chase their third win for the season when they head to Garfield after the bye.
WGFNC RESULTS – ROUND 12
A GRADE: Cora Lynn 34 v Bunyip 62, Kilcunda-Bass 0 v Dalyston 20, Kooweerup 16 v Inverloch-Kongwak 82, Korumburra-Bena 29 v Tooradin-Dalmore 36, Nar Nar Goon 51 v Garfield 41, Warragul Industrials 32 v Phillip Island 73.
B GRADE: Cora Lynn 21 v Bunyip 54, Kilcunda-Bass 44 v Dalyston 53, Kooweerup 14 v Inverloch-Kongwak 48, Korumburra-Bena 32 v Tooradin-Dalmore 56, Nar Nar Goon 64 v Garfield 39, Warragul Industrials 26 v Phillip Island 59.
C GRADE: Cora Lynn 20 v Bunyip 37, Kilcunda-Bass 28 v Dalyston 36, Kooweerup 15 v Inverloch-Kongwak 39, Korumburra-Bena 36 v Tooradin-Dalmore 26, Nar Nar Goon 28 v Garfield 27, Warragul Industrials 22 v Phillip Island 45.
D GRADE: Cora Lynn 10 v Bunyip 42, Kilcunda-Bass 32 v Dalyston 44, Kooweerup 14 v Inverloch-Kongwak 47, Nar Nar Goon 42 v Garfield 13.
17 UNDER: Cora Lynn 34 v Bunyip 26, Kilcunda-Bass 13 v Dalyston 57, Kooweerup 13 v Inverloch-Kongwak 42, Korumburra-Bena 34 v Tooradin-Dalmore 11, Nar Nar Goon 51 v Garfield 10, Warragul Industrials 15 v Phillip Island 53.
15 UNDER: Cora Lynn 8 v Bunyip 39, Kilcunda-Bass 20 v Dalyston 13, Kooweerup 6 v Inverloch-Kongwak 29, Korumburra-Bena 23 v Tooradin-Dalmore 11, Nar Nar Goon 20 v Garfield 0, Warragul Industrials 21 v Phillip Island 35.
13 UNDER: Cora Lynn 32 v Bunyip 7, Kilcunda-Bass 6 v Dalyston 10, Kooweerup 34 v Inverloch-Kongwak 12, Korumburra-Bena 7 v Tooradin-Dalmore 15, Nar Nar Goon 45 v Garfield 5, Warragul Industrials 13 v Phillip Island 40.
11 UNDER: Cora Lynn 10 v Bunyip 5, Kilcunda-Bass 2 v Dalyston 13, Kooweerup 0 v Inverloch-Kongwak 21, Nar Nar Goon 38 v Garfield 0.
WGFNC NETBALL LADDERS – ROUND 12
A GRADE W L D F A PTS %
Inverloch-Kongwak 11 1 0 618 296 44 208.78
Tooradin-Dalmore 11 1 0 558 397 44 140.55
Bunyip 9 3 0 671 385 36 174.29
Dalyston 9 3 0 439 327 36 134.25
Nar Nar Goon 9 3 0 517 430 36 120.23
Phillip Island 7 5 0 596 469 28 127.08
Cora Lynn 5 7 0 448 446 20 100.45
Korumburra Bena 5 7 0 415 456 20 91.01
Warragul Industrials 3 9 0 413 663 12 62.29
Garfield 2 10 0 368 527 8 69.83
Koo Wee Rup 1 11 0 272 679 4 40.06
Kilcunda Bass 0 12 0 0 240 0 0.00
B GRADE W L D F A PTS %
Tooradin-Dalmore 11 1 0 728 412 44 176.70
Nar Nar Goon 10 2 0 594 352 40 168.75
Bunyip 10 2 0 621 349 40 177.94
Phillip Island 10 2 0 625 450 40 138.89
Inverloch-Kongwak 9 3 0 549 385 36 142.60
Dalyston 7 5 0 570 510 28 111.76
Kilcunda Bass 4 8 0 495 535 16 92.52
Cora Lynn 3 8 1 383 569 14 67.31
Korumburra Bena 2 9 1 407 541 10 75.23
Koo Wee Rup 2 9 1 341 566 10 60.25
Garfield 2 9 1 348 580 10 60.00
Warragul Industrials 0 12 0 335 747 0 44.85
C GRADE W L D F A PTS %
Bunyip 12 0 0 528 167 48 316.17
Dalyston 10 2 0 440 276 40 159.42
Nar Nar Goon 9 2 1 371 248 38 149.60
Garfield 9 3 0 411 289 36 142.21
Inverloch-Kongwak 8 3 1 463 248 34 186.69
Phillip Island 6 6 0 343 320 24 107.19
Cora Lynn 5 6 1 302 325 22 92.92
Koo Wee Rup 4 8 0 237 361 16 65.65
Tooradin-Dalmore 3 8 1 249 319 14 78.06
Korumburra Bena 2 10 0 266 374 8 71.12
Kilcunda Bass 2 10 0 235 464 8 50.65
Warragul Industrials 0 12 0 179 633 0 28.28
D GRADE W L D F A PTS %
Inverloch-Kongwak 10 0 0 435 173 40 251.45
Bunyip 9 1 0 433 179 36 241.90
Dalyston 8 2 0 401 208 32 192.79
Nar Nar Goon 7 3 0 366 200 28 183.00
Kilcunda Bass 4 6 0 267 301 16 88.70
Tooradin-Dalmore 4 5 0 231 328 16 70.43
Garfield 3 7 0 227 317 12 71.61
Koo Wee Rup 2 8 0 177 423 8 41.84
Cora Lynn 1 9 0 192 336 4 57.14
Phillip Island 1 8 0 153 375 4 40.80
Korumburra Bena 0 0 0 0 20 0 0.00
Warragul Industrials 0 0 0 0 20 0 0.00
17 UNDER W L D F A PTS
