Yarra Glen travelled to Yarra Junction for the First Nations Round.
In Senior footy, Yarra Glen got off to a good start, kicking the first two goals and enjoying most of the play in their forward half.
Yarra Junction started winning the contested ball and then with precise short kicking, maintained possession and by quarter time they had levelled the scores at 3.1 each.
The second quarter saw the Yarra Glen defence tighten up as they kept Junction goal less.
With the midfield dominance lead by Aussie Smith and Sam Wood the River Pigs were able to add 3 goals to be 19 points up at the main break.
The third quarter was a scrappy affair with Yarra Glen controlling play but suffering from poor delivery into the forward line.
They were able to stretch their lead to 26 points at three quarter time but were finding Junction hard to score against.
The last quarter was Yarra Glen’s best as they added five goals.
Some slack defence allowed Junction to kick two of their own as Yarra Glen finished up winning, 13.11 to 6.7.
Best for Yarra Glen, Blake Binion, Kurt Raymond, Aussie Smith, Tykan Raymond, Nick McKenzie, Sam Wood. Goalkickers, Kurt Raymond 4, Nick McKenzie 3, Heath Chamberlain 2, Tom Sullivan 2, Blake Binion 1, Max DePina 1.
The Yarra Glen Reserves were looking to chalk up their first win of the season as they faced an undermanned Yarra Junction.
The first quarter was a struggle for the River Pigs as they constantly turned the ball over with poor kicking.
In a scrappy first term, Yarra Junction kicked the only goal to lead by seven points.
Yarra Glen lifted in the second to add four goals to Junction’s one.
Andrew Graham was great up forward and the defence tightened up with Ethan Murdock effecting a number of interceptions.
The River Pigs dominated in the third as they added five goals to Junction’s solitary point.
They finished off the game well, outscoring Junction in the last to earn a well-deserved first win.
Final Scores Yarra Glen 12.5 to Yarra Junction 4.6.
Best players, Tom Matthews, Andrew Graham, Dayne Downward, Ethan Murdock, Matt McKenzie, Callum Tucker, Goalkickers, Andrew Graham 4, Josh Valadon 3, Matt McKenzie 2, Keithy Gerovasilis 1, Dayne Downward 1, Callum Tucker 1.
The Under 18’s travelled to Alexandra and despite have some good players missing, they played a good first half to be three points ahead at the main break.
The boys seemed to tire in the second half and allowed Alexandra too much space and too many loose players.
Whilst they battled hard they were unable to add any goals to their score in the second half.
Alexandra added four as Yarra Glen went down 3.5 to 6.9.
Best players: Brody Adams, Callum Sanders, Lachlan Rutherford, Sam Gloury, Alastair Lowrie, Xander Dalton.
Goalkickers Sam Gloury, Lachlan Rutherford, Callum Sanders.
The Yarra Glen netballers also faced Yarra Junction in their First Nations Round clash.
The Yarra Glen A Grade girls got off to a shaky start in a battle between fourth and fifth.
Without either of their regular goalshooters Yarra Glen struggled to adjust.
Lara Wandin-Collins took control as Yarra Glen added 10 goals to Junction’s four in the second quarter.
In the second half Yarra Glen played solid netball to increase their lead to finish up with a credible 39 to 29 victory.
Best Players, Lara Wandin-Collins, Alana McGurgan, Gemma Ryan.
Yarra Glen B Grade sitting fourth on the ladder needed a win over fifth placed Yarra Junction to solidify their place in the top 4.
They put in a solid first half to be nine goals up at the main break.
Yarra Junction lifted their intensity in the third but could only reduce the lead by one goal.
The last quarter was very much a goal for goal affair leaving Yarra Glen ahead at the finish, 40 to 32.
Best Players: Skye Corrigan, Meaghan Carter, Imojean Parsons.
The Yarra Glen C Grade girls got off to a good start to be ahead by two goals at quarter time.
The balance of the game was not as good as ball handling errors contributed to a number of turnovers.
Yarra Junction’s shooters were more effective than the Yarra Glen girls as they over powered the visitors to see Yarra Glen go down, 28 to 43.
Best players were: Ash Shanks, Tayla Pinkster, April Jeeves.
With D Grade starting the day for Yarra Glen they were keen to atone for last week’s loss.
In a slowish start for Yarra Glen, Junction were able to outscore Yarra Glen by a goal in each of the first two quarters.
The second half was a great contest as Yarra Glen levelled the scores at three quarter time.
In the last quarter Junction would gain a lead only to have Yarra Glen peg them back.
In an exciting last few minutes, neither team were giving their opponents an inch and when the final hooter sounded, score were locked at 19 each.
Best players: Phoebe Boot, Lily Dove, Ashleigh Wallace.
Next week Yarra Glen host Alexandra in a must win contest for all teams.
The Vets have a bye.
