By Stacey Davis
The Eagles up the road to Kinglake to take on the Lakers in the second last game of the season and the Yarra Junction netballers had a great day out taking 3 wins from 3 games – the first time this has happened in season 2022.
C grade started the day in freezing and foggy conditions. It was a tight first quarter with a lot of defensive pressure from both teams, keeping it a low-scoring affair. At halftime you couldn’t split the teams; 8 goals apiece. Some positional changes from the Eagles at halftime saw Tracey O’Neill come into Goal Attack where she dominated and shot 12 goals in the second half, alongside Catie Conway who also shot 12 goals for the game. The Eagles had an amazing second half to take out the game 16-36. Cara Doyle was named best on in her first full game back from injury.
B grade was up next and it was another extremely tight game with only 2 goals separating the two teams at halftime, in Kinglake’s favour.
The Yarra Junction team kept composed as they continued to fight back in the second half, bringing the deficit to a single goal and the last change. Accurate goaling from Teagan Eagle (22 goals) and great defensive pressure from Deb Frecker and Tracey O’Neill saw the Eagles take the game by a single goal 29-30!
A grade was the last game of the day and they had a bit of a slow start in drizzly conditions taking a 5-goal lead at quarter time. A bit of a rev up from the coaches gave them the push they needed – the second quarter saw them score 20 goals to Kinglake’s 11 and they continued to grow their lead for the rest of the game. Everyone on the court worked hard with Jessica Ellwood named best, scoring 45 of the team’s 63 goals. Abbey Trevorah in Wing Defence and Rebecca Sanders in Goal Defence were also named amongst the best.
Unfortunately, the Yarra Junction Senior and Reserves football teams both got beaten on the day in muddy conditions but will look to regroup for the last round before heading into the finals.
Finals scores were Kinglake Seniors 15.15, 105 to Yarra Junction Seniors 10.7, 67. Kinglake Reserves 6.11, 47 to Yarra Junction 6.3, 39.
This week is Yarra Junction’s last home game of the home and away season and they encourage all of their supporters to come down for what will be a fantastic day of local football and netball.
