Sport
Second term success paves winning way

UNBEATEN Wedderburn was given a scare in North Central netball, with the Redbacks pushed right to the line by fourth-placed Birchip Watchem in A Grade.
And Boort has lost second spot on the ladder despite a win against Calder United.
It was a tight contest at Wedderburn in all but the second quarter, when Wedderburn’s 18 goals to nine gave the team what proved to be a winning break.
The Bulls outscored the home side by three goals in the second half but could not bridge the gap established in the second term.
Wedderburn coach Susie Lockhart wasn’t surprised by Birchip’s challenge, her team having beaten the Bulls by just six goals earlier in the season.
“We knew it was going to be a good game,” she said.
“They’ve got the two Angel sisters who are pretty tall, and good accurate shooters.”
Goal defence Maddi Postle was best for the Redbacks, with goal shooter Paige Stephenson also standing out in what Lockhart said was a genuine team performance.
Wedderburn’s premiership chances have been boosted by having this year’s grand final scheduled for its Donaldson Park home courts.
“It’s terrific news, thrilling,” Lockhart said.
“It’s excellent for Wedderburn as a club, and excellent if we get to play there on the day.”
She admitted that it had to be an advantage if the Redbacks were to make the grand final.
Boort defeated Calder United by nine goals to return to the winning list but was nudged out of second place on percentage by Sea Lake Nandaly, which thrashed St Arnaud by 46 goals.
Boort, missing key players to the point where the club feared it would have to forfeit, lost to Sea Lake by 16 goals in the round before the competition bye during the school holidays. That loss may have severe consequences when it comes to getting the double chance in the finals.
With four rounds remaining, the Magpies are likely to win comfortably against St Arnaud and Charlton, but face Birchip this week and then arch-rivals Wedderburn a week later.
Those two clashes will decide whether Boort can claim a top two spot in the four-team finals series.
Sea Lake Nandaly held winless bottom side St Arnaud to just 12 goals in their clash.
The win took the Tigers to a 9-3 record and second place.
Donald won its third match for the season with a 17-goal victory over Charlton.
The Royal Blues are out of finals contention but are now three games clear of the Navies in sixth place.
The battle for fourth spot and a finals berth is a tight one, with Birchip and Calder both with 6-6 records and the Bulls ahead by just under 3 per cent.
Both teams face the bottom three sides in the last four rounds, with Birchip against Boort this week and Calder to face Sea Lake in the final round of the season in what shapes as a thrilling finale to the home and away matches.

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