Ladder spots on the line

Nar Nar Goon’s Breanne Miller assesses her passing options against the Giants. 171610 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Russell Bennett

WEST GIPPSLAND FOOTBALL NETBALL COMPETITION
REVIEW – ROUND 17
In the West Gippsland A Grade competition, it’s not about which sides finish in the final five – that much has been known for weeks now.
But what’s still up in the air is exactly where each side will finish, with positions two through to five still undecided.
Korumburra-Bena has continued on its all-conquering mission – leaving every other side in the competition in its wake so far through an unbelievable combination of pinpoint passing, lightning ball movement, super-efficient shooting, and miserly defence.
The Giants don’t appear to have any real weakness, but once again it’s their great rivals from Dalyston who could bring about their undoing on the last Saturday of the season.
At least, the Magpies remain the best-placed and best-credentialed side to do it.
The Giants made their way to Spencer Street to take on the Goon – a quality outfit in its own right – and had to dig deep early before taking a commanding lead into half-time.
The Giants led by just four goals at quarter-time, 12-8, before outscoring the Goon 17-5 in the second to lead by 16. Christie Hillberg’s side then opened the margin out to 25 by three-quarter time – the same margin at the final whistle, 61-36.
Inverloch-Kongwak, meanwhile, put a severe dent in Kooweerup’s top four chances with a hard-fought seven-goal win on their home court, 37-30.
Rebecca Wright’s Sea Eagles took a narrow two-goal advantage into quarter time and maintained that into the half. A three-goal margin with just a quarter left to play ensured this was truly anyone’s game for the taking, but Inverloch rallied to take its seven-goal win.
Kelly Boyd shone at goal attack for the Sea Eagles with 18 goals, while Rebecca Christie netted 17 for the Demons.
Phillip Island struggled to hold off Bunyip in the early going at Cowes, leading by just a goal after the first term and by four at half-time. The Yips were well and truly still within reach with a quarter left to play, just five goals down, but the girls from the Island stood strong to win by 11 goals, 42-31.
Kelly O’Neill was one of the standouts for the home side with her 18 goals, while the likes of Lawri Piera and Amber Formosa also had a significant impact.
The Cobras, meanwhile, showed the difference between eighth and ninth on the ladder as they proved a class above the Panthers at Bass, 57-27.
Though Kilcunda Bass was just four goals down at quarter-time, Cora Lynn put the foot down from then on – extending their margin at every turn.
Lauren Briggs was one of the stars for the Cobras with 34 of her side’s 57 goals.
In the other game of Round 17, Dalyston predictably annihilated Garfield 115-5.
This week the Giants will look to keep their undefeated streak rolling when they host the struggling Panthers at the showgrounds; the Goon hosts Phillip Island at Spencer Street in a battle of the top four sides; Bunyip hosts Cora Lynn; the Sea Eagles head to Garfield to battle the Stars; and Kooweerup will look to cause a big upset over Dalyston in a clash of fifth versus second at Denhams Road.

WGFNC Netball Scoreboard
A GRADE: Nar Nar Goon 36 v Korumburra-Bena 61, Kilcunda Bass 27 v Cora Lynn 57, Inverloch Kongwak 37 v Kooweerup 30, Dalyston 115 v Garfield 5, Phillip Island 42 v Bunyip 31.
B GRADE: Nar Nar Goon 39 v Korumburra-Bena 60, Kilcunda Bass 14 v Cora Lynn 60, Inverloch Kongwak 47 v Kooweerup 23, Dalyston 101 v Garfield 25, Phillip Island 43 v Bunyip 39.
C GRADE: Nar Nar Goon 35 v Korumburra-Bena 30, Kilcunda Bass 5 v Cora Lynn 49, Inverloch Kongwak 9 v Kooweerup 25, Dalyston 70 v Garfield 14, Phillip Island 17 v Bunyip 27.
17 UNDER: Nar Nar Goon 12 v Korumburra-Bena 67, Kilcunda Bass 19 v Cora Lynn 31, Inverloch Kongwak 42 v Kooweerup 18, Dalyston 76 v Garfield 15, Phillip Island 24 v Bunyip 22.
15 UNDER: Nar Nar Goon 23 v Korumburra-Bena 34, Kilcunda Bass 6 v Cora Lynn 27, Inverloch Kongwak 33 v Kooweerup 8, Dalyston 33 v Garfield 6, Phillip Island 38 v Bunyip 9.
13 UNDER: Nar Nar Goon 4 v Korumburra-Bena 33, Inverloch Kongwak 10 v Kooweerup 30, Dalyston 65 v Garfield 2, Phillip Island 31 v Bunyip 8.
Next round (Round 18, 19 August): Korumburra-Bena v Kilcunda Bass, Garfield v Inverloch Kongwak, Nar Nar Goon v Phillip Island, Bunyip v Cora Lynn, Kooweerup v Dalyston.

A GRADE LADDER: Korunburra-Bena 68, Dalyston 56, Phillip Island 52, Nar Nar Goon 40, Kooweerup 40, Inverloch-Kongwak 28, Bunyip 24, Cora Lynn 24, Kilcunda Bass 8, Garfield 0.