By David Nagel
A refreshed and revitalised Tooradin-Dalmore is about to face its biggest test of the season when the Seagulls head to Spencer Street on Saturday to take on Nar Nar Goon.
The Seagulls are one of three teams undefeated at the top of the ladder – alongside Dalyston and Inverloch – but with wins over four of the bottom five teams there’s still a question mark over the legitimacy of their form this season.
A big win over the Goon, who has won its last three in a row, would show Kelly Haynes and her team are right on track to go deep into finals this year.
The Seagulls will be fresh, coming off the bye, and take on a Goon outfit that is coming off consecutive wins over Kooweerup, Garfield and Phillip Island.
Saturday’s 61-42 win over the Bulldogs was built on a strong finish, after the Goon struggled to break free of the home side in the first half.
Goon skipper Chantelle Dale had a great battle with Lexi Walton to gain midcourt ascendency in the opening term, with both players refusing to concede an inch.
The Goon led 12-9 at quarter time and only slightly extended its lead to 26-21 as the teams listened to half time instructions.
The Goon was a different team after the break.
Olivia Hamilton (C) took over from Dale in the middle and alongside Meaghan Winter (WA) and Steph Lee (GA) provided Kyra Esler (GS) with plenty of opportunity to score.
Esler was on fire in the third term, scoring 15 of 18 goals as the Goon ran away with the contest.
Coach Meg Evans has her team looking strong as the huge challenge of taking on Tooradin looms large on the horizon.
It should be a cracker on Saturday afternoon!
Inverloch-Kongwak is yet to put a foot wrong in its title defence and continued its impressive form with a 55-23 victory over Garfield.
Beswick Street proved a happy hunting ground for the Sea Eagles who had this one in the bag after a rampaging 16-4 first quarter.
Kelsey Buxton (C) was like a cyclone through the midcourt, with Lanni Pryor (WA), Millie Sadler (WD) and skipper Kelly Boyd (GS) also putting on a master-class of high-intensity netball.
Amy Scott (GA) was the one to cash in; scoring 14 first-quarter goals, but the team-first approach from the Sea Eagles will be most impressive for head coach Jarrad Walker.
His Eagles take on bottom-placed Warragul Industrials this week, before a bumper round-six visit to Dalyston.
The Magpies were also impressive on Saturday in a 64-29 win over Bunyip.
Both teams were missing key players, with no sign of Jasmin Mackie for the Bulldogs while Dalyston coach Alana McRae was also a massive absence from the team-sheet.
The Magpies overcame their loss brilliantly, scoring 16-5 in the opening stanza to set up the comfortable victory.
Olivia (GK) and Chloe Bramley (GD) were rock-solid for the winners, while Brydie Cunningham (GS) and Lisa Proctor (WA/WD) gave their all for the Bulldogs.
Kate Sidebottom’s Kooweerup is celebrating back-to-back victories after the Demons impressed with a 45-28 triumph over Kilcunda Bass.
This one looked to be the tightest game of the round, and it proved that way in the opening exchanges with the Demons taking a 10-8 lead to quarter time.
Sidebottom went toe-to-toe with Kacey Maund (C) in the pivot, with both players equally effective in the first term.
But the Demons gradually increased their rating, taking a 23-17 lead to half time before exploding away with a clinical 12-3 third quarter.
Jayda McKonkey (GA), Claise Janssen (WA) and Ash Murphy (GS) were in rare touch for the Dees, while Emily Mock (WA) and Maund were terrific for the Panthers…still chasing their first win for the season.
The Panthers host Bunyip this week, followed by a visit from Garfield.
And Korumburra-Bena has scored the second-highest score for the season against Warragul Industrials at Western Park.
Only Tooradin-Dalmore (95) back in round two have scored more than the Giants on the weekend, with goalers Elisha Nicholas (GA) and Mackenna Whiteside (GS) leading the visitors to a 91-28 victory.
Nicholas scored 56 of her teams goals, while Whiteside poured in 35 in another impressive display.
Gemma Dixon (GD) kept things tight for the Giants, while Tessa BInney (GD) tried to stem the flow for the Dusties amid a torrent of midcourt flow.
