Benalla All Blacks
NETBALL
15 & Under
The under-15s had a really tough game this week playing against Bonnie Doon. Imogen Randell worked hard in our defence with Georgia Levy and Zellie Nicholls working hard in our attack. Next week we will have our full team back when we play against Whorouly.
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Mel Goodwin Tupperware: Imogen Randell
Spot 4 Ice Cream Voucher: Giselle Nicholls
McDonalds Voucher: Georgia Levy
17 & Under
A good game was played by the All Blacks’ under-17 girls, despite a few injuries. Bonnie Doon played a hard and physical game right from the start not allowing the All Blacks the chance to score much. Best-on-court was Lilly Robertson, Jessica Holland and Kaylah Devlin.
Body Shop at Home Voucher: Lilly Robertson
McDonald’s Voucher: Jessica Holland
All Blacks Canteen Voucher: Kaylah Devlin
B-Reserve
B-Res went up against a strong Bonnie Doon, a team that had played together for a long time. The girls went out knowing it would be tough. You could sense the nerves of the girls in the first quarter, allowing Doon to take out a pretty solid lead.
Heading into our second half, the girls were reminded to play our game, rather than following in line with Doon, this saw the girls play some sensational netball.
Keeley and Chloe played outstanding in defence, making it incredibly hard for the Bonnie Doon girls to score. Grace, Ally, Katelyn and Jess all worked tirelessly to defend the mid court, having hands over every ball, and bring the ball down court to the shooters.
Emma played a key role in shooting and then in the mid court to be a key feeder into the shooters in the second half. Tay and Jess put in an incredible effort moving in the ring, putting up their shots and putting every effort into rebounds. Overall, the first-quarter lead was too much to chase down, but a valiant effort to continue to build on.
Benalla Toyota/Delatite Ford Award: Emma Sangster
Benalla Gold Cup Entry: Keeley Sheehan
Sportspower Voucher: Tayla Bate
B-Grade
B-grade had another tough game with Bonnie Doon having a significant advantage across the court with their height in all positions, something our team was not used to.
Bonnie Doon also had strong hands over the ball, which made it hard for anyone to see the ball.
Elyse Felstead played a solid game in defence, with her being our tallest player who could match it with Bonnie Doons shooter, earning her best on.
Brooke Bradshaw did an immense amount of work bringing the ball down and feeding into her other shooter, also named in the best.
Kellie Holmes played a great game in WA, with a hard game trying to see over Bonnie Doon, however, her speed and fitness kept her competitive throughout.
The girls will take a lot away from today on how to adapt to a taller side and hopefully we can turn it into a strength of ours instead.
Royal Hotel Meal Voucher: Elyse Felstead
Rustik Cafe Voucher: Brooke Bradshaw
All Blacks Club Dinner: Kellie Holmes
A-Grade
A-grade came across another strong and accurate team this week in Bonnie Doon. We had two players missing but were lucky enough to have Jessie Ellis come back to step into our defensive end.
Olivia Cavicchiolo proved vital in shutting down Bonnie Doon’s GS in the third and fourth quarters, having multiple intercepts and rebounds. Pressure also from Marni Thorne in both roles as C and GD contributed to regaining the win for us.
Georgia Spencer changing things up coming from goals into the C for the last half gave an advantage for some fresh legs and height. All three girls receiving game day awards.
A huge credit to the whole team for not losing their confidence and fight even when we were down throughout the game! We kept our composure and put in 100 per cent effort to get that win.
This season is shaping up to be a tough one but looking forward to what this team can bring throughout the year.
Ray White Award: Olivia Cavicchiolo
AMCAL Voucher: Georgia Spencer
Body Shop at Home Voucher: Marni Thorne
FOOTBALL
Reserves
Unfortunately the reserves went down to a very strong Bonnie Doon on Good Friday by only five points.
It was a tough contest all day, and we knew the Doon was going to be a tough ask, as they are every year on the Good Friday clash.
In the defeat, Josh Hyland was a standout playing down back, his ability to intercept the football time after time, really set the game for us to be able to control the ball when we had possession down back. The defenders had a hard day down back, with more inside 50s then we have had all year, but alongside Josh, Jeremy Hayes and Mitch Dansey were able to play their role just as we asked from every player — the ability to switch the football and get the ball moving from defence to attack started with these guys.
Our midfielders had a very hard task, trying to play that attacking brand of football and defend when they ball was going the other way. Brendon Smith and Ayden Amos both did this well, the run was there when we needed to attack and the run was there when we needed to defend, just what we asked from our midfielders in two-way running.
And a standout game has to be mentioned to Ahren McNab, this is a player who has impressed many with his improvements over the past years, but his ability to back himself and hit contests and take pack marks was a standout for him on Friday.
Seniors
Yesterday the Senior side took on its first real challenge for the season, facing a Bonnie Doon team that is predicted to finish top four.
All week we said this was our chance to send a message to the rest of the league that we are the real deal and a top contender.
After a shaky first couple of minutes to the game we got on top and never looked back.
With Jake Jones in the ruck giving our midfield first opportunity every time, we were able to get quality forward entries resulting in a six-goal first quarter.
The hard running and contested work of Al Jacka and Riley Moran in the midfield proved to be too much for the opposition to handle, both also pushing forward to hit the scoreboard.
In the second quarter, our back six tightened up and James Webster played his best game for the season shutting down the opposition’s best forward.
Our pressure up the ground continued to build, and the All Blacks went into half-time up by 34 points.
In the second half, our forward pressure continued to be the standout of the game, clearly being the best we’ve had in years.
Led by Lochie Morrison and Cody Crawford, both scrapping for everything and laying crunching tackles.
The continued excellence of Lachy Thompson down forward has really been a highlight to the start of year, kicking another six, that brings his total up to 25 goals from three games.
Overall yesterday was a fantastic team win, we were challenged at times, but we responded and passed the test with flying colours. Next week we take on a desperate Whorouly on our home deck, which is sure to be no easy task.