Erika Allen
HOW long will it last? Drouin’s unbeaten Gippsland League netball record remained intact after round eight.
The Hawks defeated the Maffra Eagles by 17 goals on Saturday, as Drouin continued to set the pace in the league.
The Hawks’ next five matches against Leongatha, Warragul, Traralgon, Wonthaggi, and Sale are theirs for the taking on paper, with the Parrots and Power within the top five, rounds nine and 12 expected to be Drouin’s toughest battles before coming up against reigning premier Moe in round 14.
In Saturday’s game, the Eagles got the jump on the hosts, winning the first term 11-10. However, an incredible second term goal haul saw 21 sail through the net from the capable hands of Drouin shooter Myra Kumwenda Mbwana, Charlize Traumanis and Stacie Gardiner. The trio combined for Drouin’s 59 goals to Maffra’s 42.
The Eagles didn’t slouch in the second term, as Tilly Fox and Sienna Wynd combined for 15. But Drouin tightened its defence through best on court player Ava Gaul, giving Gardiner and Kumwenda Mbwana plenty of opportunities to convert in the second half.
Jayde Parsons earned recognition as Maffra’s best player on court, the defender’s experience proving crucial game after game. Fox and Maffra centre Matilda Pendergast rounded out the best Eagles.
The Eagles are in for another challenge this weekend as they host third-ranked Bairnsdale on Saturday.
The Redlegs defeated Sale 51-36 on Saturday, bringing up their sixth victory this season.
Defender Sally Deller was Bairnsdale’s best player for taking on Sale’s Kate Van der Voort under the ring. Van der Voort shot 16 goals in the match, with Eve Sabell Sale’s other goal shooter with 20.
Strong Redlegs through the mid-court were centre Paris Dunkley and wing attack Jordan O’Connor. Both earned nods among Bairnsdale’s best.
From one centre to another, Sale’s Mahli Stothers maintained her consistency through the mid-court, while goalkeeper Ashleigh Keefe put in a strong performance.
Moe, Wonthaggi and Leongatha all featured on Sunday.
The Lions were the most dominant winners of the round, defeating Warragul by 40 goals at Gaskin Park, Churchill.
With injury outs, Moe’s depth has come to the fore as the reigning premier has maintained its form against genuine finals contenders in recent rounds. While finalists last year, Warragul is not in that equation, with a mostly new-look team this season yet to celebrate victory after eight rounds.
The Lions out-paced the Gulls on the scoreboard, as Emma McMillan (48 goals) and Alex Doherty (11) combined for 19 goals in the fourth quarter to Moe’s most of any term. But goal defender Jordan Pyle was voted most valuable player in the match, followed by centre Alexandra Moody and wing defender Charlize Bird.
Warragul defenders Ruby Fullgrabe and Olivia Barr were the best Gulls, followed by centre Sienna Green.
The tightest scoreline of the round saw Wonthaggi emerge on top of Leongatha by six goals in a battle between fifth and fourth, respectively. In Morwell, the home team were outplayed by Traralgon, the Maroons taking a third victory this season by 11 goals.
This weekend’s other match-ups will be between Sale and Moe, Traralgon and Wonthaggi, and Warragul and Morwell.
Photo: Photos by Daysy
