PREMIUM
Sport

Strathmerton netballers lose a thriller

Influential: Strathmerton’s Jemmah Ryan took home the $100 cash award. Photo by Megan Fisher

Strathmerton travelled to Waaia on Sunday to take on the Bombers in round 11 of the PDFNL season.

Netball

A Grade

Lost 40-38

Starting the game with a couple of new combinations, the team adjusted quickly. A strong first half from both teams ended with only three goals separating the sides at half-time. Great passages of play paired with strong goaling combinations set up a great last quarter. A contested fourth quarter saw it go right down to the wire and unfortunately Strathmerton couldn’t get the four points.

It was a great team game today, we stuck to our structures and set plays allowing for plenty of whole-court-pressure turnovers.

Awards:

Riverbank Farm $100 cash: Jemmah Ryan

Club Bucks: Zoe Martin

Mars Bar: Caitlin Brooks

B Grade

Won 38-51

We always have a good, physical tussle when we come up against Waaia and today was no different. We played a patient and controlled game out on court, working beautifully as a team to bring the ball from one end to the other. Waaia’s goalers were quite accurate at post (even with solid defence over the shot) so Reen and Joy worked hard to get tips and intercepts before the ball made its way into the ring. Watching the two of them talk to one another and work together is a thing of beauty. The pressure that they put their opponents under is second to none and they were pivotal in our win. Both of them earning themselves an award for their efforts. Down the other end of the court, Chea had a blinder at GA; her and Kiara have been working on their movement within the ring and it showed out on court. Chea timed her leads well, finding space in the ring, and a huge bonus — the girl can shoot from anywhere!

Great team win against a strong opposition.

Awards:

ND Services $50: Loreena Keane

Club Bucks and Kristi Cleary Arbonne: Chealah Dawson

Mars Bar: Joy Maher

C Grade

Lost 55 -21

A very tough game. Waaia came out strong right from the start and we ended the first quarter seven goals down. We made changes to give all our players some court time and see if we could break their momentum. Unfortunately, this didn’t work for us and we just couldn’t catch them. Everyone still gave 100 per cent effort, we kept our heads up, but it just wasn’t our day. We will reset and look towards next week to get back on the winners’ list.

Awards:

O’Brien Earthmoving Cash: Beth Homan

The Sauna Clinic @ Altruistic Alternative Therapies: Sarah McVeigh

Mantos Produce: Elle Drew

Strathmerton Mailbox Cafe & Brooks Snickers Bar: Tayla Dempster

C Reserve

Lost 35-24

Killer game from the crew, just not our day on the scoreboard. Special mention to Tramadol. Katie McDonald was clinically high on tooth medication, and still managed a belter in defence (please let Renee drive home). Shooters, as always, worked tirelessly in the ring, and Cat Herder Numero Uno Livvie V Every rattled opposition in GK. Finally, a delightful member of the opposing team tried to push Mumma Jodes over, and then laughed at her. Well madam, we’ll see you in finals, because NO-ONE MESSES WITH OUR MUMMA!

Awards:

Van Every Family Cash & Brooks Mars Bar: Hannah Routledge

Premix King: Gracie Muck

Manto Produce: Renee Anderson

Rust & Co Mid Season Awards: Whole team (thanks Jobena Hocking!)

Under-17s

Lost

Wow, what a game today from our under-17s! In a nail biter we unfortunately went down by one goal but it was a good comeback from being five down at three-quarter time. We are becoming a real team, and everyone played their part. We showed our versatility in the goal ring and defensive end and our talk and getting around each other is really commendable! Ash Dyson was on fire in defence, picking off any stray passes and driving down the court. Alina Corso showed a level head in the centre court and her positive talk was fantastic. Mackenzie Duhring shot beautifully, nailing some long bombs. Well done, girls — a tough loss but things are certainly coming together.

Awards:

Crestani Concrete: Ash Dyson

Mars Bar: Alina Corso

Strathy Canteen: Mackenzie Duhring

Under-15s

Won 30-22

After a bit of a slow start the girls managed to come away with the win. We mixed up positions and everyone adjusted well to all the changes throughout the game. Lexi started in goals while Ayla and Jess pulled the intercepts in the defence. The midcourt had many changes, with Mia playing a pearler in WA. Was a hard week for awards this week due to everyone playing their role. We left the awards to Dogsy to choose.

Awards:

Crestani Concrete: Mia Anastasio

Sports First Numurkah: Alexia Iddles

Strathy Canteen: Ayla Sim

Under-13s

Won 18-20

The girls had a great team game this week. The focus was on passing in front, our drives and patience with the ball. We started out a little slow and sloppy but after half-time the girls knuckled down and played great netball. Darci’s movement and drives were perfectly timed in the goal ring and her shooting was at 100 per cent from anywhere in the ring. Jasmine and Paige played great attack and defence, driving in front of their player and getting lots of taps in. Lizzie was a great little WA with great timing of her leads and feeding in to our goalers. Our defence was on point, chasing every loose ball and working on keeping their eyes up. Our centre, Claudia, ran out a full game and showcased everything we have been working on at training, getting lots of intercepts and taps.

Super proud of the girls’ efforts this week!

Awards:

Crestani Concrete: Darci Carmody

Wingates Intersport: Jasmine Argus

The Lefty baker: Paige Argus

Brooks Chocolate Bar: Lizzie Trimble

Under-11s

Due to Waaia’s big numbers we got the opportunity to play a couple of extra quarters of netball, which our girls were understandably excited about, and as their coach I was excited to see things clicking out on court for them. Everything I asked of them at the breaks they went out and executed. We had multiple goal scorers, great pressure in defence and strong drives in attack. Phoebe lead beautifully all day, it didn’t matter what position she was in, she had an impact on the game both physically and verbally, encouraging and directing her teammates all game. Liana had her best game in terms of footwork today and had a great couple of quarters in GS, putting up good goals with a big smile on her face. Sienna had great hands over the shot in GK, pulled in pivotal rebounds and picked up lots of loose balls, and Eliza got lots of tips through the midcourt when she was running the centre. A great team game, with a couple of proud coaches on the sidelines.

Awards:

Sportsfirst Numurkah: Phoebe

The Lefty Baker: Liana

Strathy Canteen: Sienna

Mars Bar: Eliza

Football

Seniors

Lost 10.10.70 to 5.5.35

Last year’s grand final rematch was one that we pencilled into our calendar and we were looking forward to the challenge.

The first half was an even battle, both teams had their chances. A few undisciplined free kicks from us let the home team sneak out to a 15-point margin at the main break. The third quarter was an even battle, but we struggled to hit a target inside 50. We will take a few important lessons from the game and ensure to be better next time.

Goals: A. Crestani 3, T. Looby 2

Best: M. Payne, Z. Betson, S. Lewis, J. Payne and R. Sampson

Avenue to goal: Strathmerton’s Adrian Crestani. Photo by Alex Mitchell

Reserves

Lost 11.11.77 to 4.3.27

The boys headed to Waaia for a grand final rematch. We had a bit of a different side as a few of our players went up to the ones because of injuries.

We didn’t get the result we were after but next week the boys take on Tocumwal and hopefully we get back on the winners’ wagon.

Awards:

$50: T. Craven

Cobram Outdoors: J. Stephens

Bulldog Bucks: C. Beer

Numurkah Intersport: M. Looby

Club Pizza: S. Emmett

Goals: A. Wood, T. Cantrill, J. McKenzie and Z. Bunge

Thirds

Lost 15.8.98 to 0.3.3

The boys made there way to Waaia looking to get on the winners’ list. Unfortunately they boys couldn’t get the job done. We have lots to take away from the game and it’s good to see some of the young boys starting to stand up.

Awards:

Craig’s Mobile Butchering: Coby

Darcy McCormack: Jai

Coaches Award: Harry B

Crestani Concrete: Nash

Miss Bramich Mars Bar: Sam O

Strathy Canteen: RJ

Bury Family Socks: Billy

Fourths

Won 2.4.16 to 9.7.61

Sunday footy and some early-morning sun, albeit brief, greeted the bullpups at Waaia. Game on from the start, as both sides used their older, bigger kids to dominate play and drive their sides forward. The first half was a real arm wrestle. Jed Bayne proved that the little blokes can get involved, too, knocking over bigger bodies and getting his hands dirty! Mykel Argus was really important all over the ground. The third quarter was our best and we blew the game open with a five-goal to zero onslaught. The last quarter was a bit tighter but the damage was done and we ran away with a pretty comfortable win. R.J. was impassable at half-back and continuously drove the ball forward with run and carry. Nash Bayne is having a fantastic year and led by example again today. While Jack Keane and Tamika Muller (on her birthday) both got their first goal in Bulldogs colours!

Cheers to Waaia for helping us get all players on the ground in the second half.

Goals: Derek Muckenthaler 3, Ashton Speechly 2, Preston Power, Mykel Argus, Tamika Muller and Jack Keane 1.

Awards:

Numurkah’s Trade Group: Jed Bayne

Crestani Concrete: Mykel Argus

Strathmerton Mailbox Cafe: R.J. Patmore

The Lefty Baker: Tamika Muller

Strathy Canteen Voucher: Nash Bayne

Coaches Award: Jack Keane

Fifths

A fresh morning at Waaia. All the kids had a blast, showing how much our teamwork has improved. Waaia had a small number of players, and the Bullpups took turns on both sides. A great team effort. Best team game of the season!

Awards:

Mars Bar: Max

Strathy Canteen: Flynn K

O’Brien Earthmoving: Buddy

The Lefty Baker: Jayden

Bernt Ag: Ernie

Auselec: Dylan