Sport
18 July, 2026
Lions’ opening leap too good
A STRONG second half wasn’t enough for Boort’s A Grade netball team to avoid a shock loss to Calder United last Saturday.
A STRONG second half wasn’t enough for Boort’s A Grade netball team to avoid a shock loss to Calder United last Saturday.
The Lions, with just one win for the season, jumped the Magpies and established a 13-goal lead by half-time.
Boort whittled away at the margin but eventually fell by nine goals in a result that kept the team out of the double-chance spots on the ladder for the moment.
Coach Carly Isaac has been intent to introduce new blood into the squad this season, and the results have been mixed.
Wing attack Eliza Perryman and goal shooter Steph Wilson were best against Calder.
At 5-4 for the season, the Magpies are in third place, comfortably ahead of Sea Lake Nandaly in fourth, which has a 4-4 record and an inferior percentage.
But Boort will want to overtake Birchip Watchem, which is now a game ahead in second spot, and reclaim the double chance after sitting directly behind Wedderburn for most of the year .
Wedderburn, meanwhile, rolled on with its ninth consecutive win for the year, thumping the Bulls by 29 goals and reinforcing their seeming infallibility.
The Redbacks took last season’s premiership without a loss, and it seems almost inevitable that they will run undefeated through the home and away season.
The win over their nearest rivals on the ladder came on the back of a 32-12 second-half domination.
Their A Grade team is experienced and stable, with a deep squad that can comfortably cover any injuries and allow coach Meg Lowry to rest players if needed before the finals.
The Redbacks’ B Grade team is on top after only one loss for the season, with plenty of seasoned players ready and able to step up.
Wedderburn’s best players against the Bulls were goal attack Holly Lockhart, centre Kelsey Pallpratt and wing attack Paige Ryan, highlighting the team’s strengths across the board
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Goals come flooding in show of potency
BRIDGEWATER went on another A Grade scoring spree against Bears Lagoon Serpentine last Saturday.
The Mean Machine racked up 76 goals to sweep aside the Bears, who could manage only 21 goals in return.
The potency of Bridgewater’s attack has been a feature all season, and most apparent in the past three weeks, with the team having scored more than 60 goals in every game.
Goalers Nat and Dannielle Flood have been dominant in Bridgewater’s wins, and the Mean Machine’s surging percentage is now effectively worth a game over third-placed Newbridge.
Dannielle’s intercept work was exceptional, with countless turnovers halting Serp attacks.
Coach Lou Dupuy said the team put into practice everything the players had been working on.
UNBEATEN Mitiamo was untroubled in a 34-goal win over Maiden Gully.
The Superoos led by 25 goals at half-time, having held the inexperienced Eagles to just five goals. Even without star goaler Laura Hicks, Miti had too much firepower in racking up a 13th-straight win for the season, maintaining its four-game buffer on top of the ladder.
A COMFORTABLE 19-goal win over Calivil kept Newbridge in third position amid the scramble for places in the five.
The result ended the Demons’ slim hopes of a run at fifth place – they are now three games and percentage behind Inglewood and Marong.
A strong first quarter, after which the Maroons led by 12 goals, set the scene for Newbridge’s victory in windy conditions. Calivil’s young squad fought hard, but the gap was too significant.
Playing at goal attack, Abbi Wells was Newbridge’s best, with ultra consistent goal defence Leah Oxford and goal keeper Jas Daly critical in keeping the Demons’ attackers quiet.
Read More: Wedderburn