Sport
8 August, 2026
Woodies looking set for big action
INGLEWOOD shored up its position in the top five of Loddon Valley A Grade netball with a powerful 69-24 win over Maiden Gully last Saturday.
INGLEWOOD shored up its position in the top five of Loddon Valley A Grade netball with a powerful 69-24 win over Maiden Gully last Saturday.
But results in the last two weeks of the home and away season could see the Blues finish as high as third or miss the finals altogether.
The year’s climax has three teams competing for the last two spots in the finals, and the fixture suggests that Inglewood will hang on to its place, with a likely win over Bears Lagoon Serpentine (eighth) in the final round.
Victory over second-placed Newbridge this Saturday would surprise, but that would almost certainly be enough for the Blues to seal a finals’ appearance.
The Woodies certainly did what was needed against an outmatched but hard-working Eagles’ outfit.
Tall shooter Aleisha Shay was imposing in attack, even though she seemed to rush some of her shots, with Inglewood’s midcourt players constantly feeding her and goal attack Teresa Fitzpatrick.
The defence was also on song, with goal keeper Georgi Short too mobile for Maiden Gully’s shooter Peyton Saxton and Kathleen Hocking keeping wing attack Ebony Johansen under wraps.
Eagles coach Christie Griffiths moved herself into the centre to take on rival coach Dani O’Toole in the second quarter, and it was a very physical contest between the two veterans, with neither giving an inch.
Inglewood led by nine goals at quarter-time and put the game beyond Maiden Gully’s reach with a 19-6 second term.
The Eagles could only score seven goals in the second half to the Woodies’ 30 as Inglewood rammed home its superiority.
Maiden Gully faces Marong and Calivil in the last two rounds of a season that has brought three wins to a developing young squad.
- GARY WALSH
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