Netball
14 May, 2025
WFNL round sees some blowouts on court
The better sides, at least according to the ladder, rose to the top in Round Four of A Grade netball in the Wimmera Football Netball League on Saturday.
Ararat, Dimboola, Horsham Saints, and the Thunder all got the points, with mostly bigger wins and just the one closer match-up.
The closest game was between Ararat and Warrack at ANZAC Park, with the visitors winning by six, 49 to 43.
Ararat got off to a good start, leading by three at the end of the quarter, before being up by eight at halftime and seven leading into the final quarter.
Coach of Warrack, Sarah Spicer, said her players let themselves down in the second term, but otherwise the contest was even.
"We had the momentum in the second half, but Ararat's goalies shot accurately under the pressure," she said.
"We have definitely improved each week and haven't let games blow out when they could have; we stayed in the contest and kept challenging."
Ararat was best led by Faith Biddle and Maggie Astbury, in Goal Attack and Goal Defense respectively, while Warrack's best players were Jess Kelly (Goal Keeper) and Nicola Clyne (Goal Attack).
"Nicola played a great game at GA," Spicer said.
"She was accurate at shooting, was always an option, and fed our Goal Shooter, Amber (O'Connor), well all game."
Meanwhile, at Jeparit Recreation Reserve, Minyip Murtoa experienced a 30-goal loss at the hands of Southern Mallee Thunder.
The Steph Thomson-led side, in the Thunder, were on the ball from the get-go,
The Burras were down by eight at the end of the first quarter, 20 at halftime, and 22 heading into the final quarter.
"We had a really strong start and settled into the game early," Thomson said.
"Our defence was strong, creating intercepts which we converted into goals.
"Our subs also made a difference in another hot game, giving some girls a rest and coming back on fresh."
Thomson said her side also had a lot more control and patience moving the ball this week, both things they have been working on hard at training to get right.
The coach said there were brilliant performances all over the court, and gave mention to some.
"Sydney (Thorogood) played another strong defensive game," she said.
"Jodie (Hayes) for her movement and feeding into the goalies.
"And a special mention to Caitlin (Douglass) and Connie (Rule), who were put into positions we hadn’t planned or trained for."
The coach herself, in Thomson, was also outstanding, and had accuracy in goals despite being fatigued and under pressure.
Minyip Murtoa's better players were Johanna Griffiths and Stacey Arnold.
In other games, the Horsham Saints defeated Stawell 84 to 36, and Dimboola 74 got the points over Nhill 44.