By David Braithwaite and Blake Metcalf-Holt
SALE secured its second win of the Gippsland League netball season, defeating Warragul 66-37 at home on Saturday.
Scores at Sale Oval were level after the first quarter before the Magpies stormed away in the second, scoring 21 goals to five. The home side extended its lead as the game progressed, eventually winning by 29.
Ashleigh Keefe did a power of work for Sale in defence to be named the Magpies’ best-on-court, while Eve Sabell and Kate Van der Voort were outstanding in attack, with the latter scoring 54 goals.
The win gives ninth-placed Sale more breathing space from winless Warragul, with 10 points now separating them.
Best for the Gulls were goal attack Amelia Henry, goal keeper Olivia Barr and wing defence Brooke Cahill.
Seventh-placed Maffra remains 10 points outside the top five after a 67-31 loss at Leongatha.
The Eagles trailed by only a goal at quarter-time before the Parrots surged, scoring double-figure amounts in each remaining quarter while keeping the visitors to single figures.
Best for the Parrots were Nicola Marriott, Jayde Hall and Amy Scott (33 goals), with Elly Weatherley (20 goals), Linley Bertacchini and Jayde Parsons best for the Eagles.
There was some drama in the C Grade game, which ended two minutes early.
It is understood tensions boiled over to the point where some players began engaging in rough conduct.
Leongatha won the game 34-31.
The league is investigating.
Returning to A Grade, Moe shut down any efforts from Traralgon, with the Lions victorious 75-41 at Ted Summerton Reserve.
Back on their official home court, Moe piled on the goals while limiting any attempts in the Maroons’ attacking end, leading by 13 goals at the first break. A 21-goal second quarter for the Lions then pushed the margin out to 25 by half-time.
While Traralgon increased its scoring pressure in the third quarter, outscoring Moe by three goals, the Lions finished the game at their best once more to finish ahead by their biggest margin of the day.
Moe co-coach Alex Moody, Jordan Pyle and Ash Mawer were best. Kasey Guttridge, Marley Wallace and Bronwyn Tebb put in good stints for the Maroons.
Traralgon moves to two games behind fifth-placed Wonthaggi on the ladder.
Morwell was kept at bay by Bairnsdale, 58-35, away from home. The Tigers failed to break into double-digit scoring quarters throughout the game until the last term, while the Redlegs continued their hot pursuit of finals.
The match of the round saw Drouin outlast Wonthaggi 63-57 at home to continue its unbeaten run.
After the Power pounced on the Hawks to begin proceedings, the top side in the competition then piled on 49 goals to 38 through to the final bell.
Mwai Kumwenda Mbwana (51 goals) and Chelsea Bowman (50 goals) virtually went goal-for-goal throughout the entire contest.
Around the Courts
A Grade
Bairnsdale 58 d Morwell 35; Drouin 62 d Wonthaggi 57; Leongatha 67 d Maffra 31; Moe 75 d Traralgon 41; Sale 66 d Warragul 37.
Ladder: Drouin 48, Moe 44, Bairnsdale 36, Leongatha 28, Wonthaggi 26, Traralgon 18, Maffra 16, Morwell 14, Sale 10, Warragul 0.
B Grade
Morwell 41 d Bairnsdale 40; Drouin 40 d Wonthaggi 30; Leongatha 83 d Maffra 33; Traralgon 53 d Moe 46; Sale 62 d Warragul 33.
Ladder: Leongatha 48, Moe 36, Drouin 32, Wonthaggi 28 (132 per cent), Traralgon 28 (113), Morwell 26, Bairnsdale 18, Maffra 14, Sale 10, Warragul 0.
C Grade
Morwell 44 d Bairnsdale 33; Drouin 41 d Wonthaggi 33; Leongatha 34 d Maffra 31; Moe 52 d Traralgon 39; Sale 40 d Warragul 33.
Ladder: Drouin 40 (139 per cent), Morwell 40 (137), Moe 36 (132), Leongatha 36 (124), Traralgon 28, Wonthaggi 24, Bairnsdale 16, Maffra 12, Sale 4 (57), Warragul 4 (44).
17 & Under
Bairnsdale 51 d Morwell 12; Drouin 44 d Wonthaggi 23; Maffra 36 d Leongatha 34; Traralgon 51 d Moe 50; Sale 52 d Warragul 26.
Ladder: Traralgon 48, Bairnsdale 40, Moe 36, Sale 32, Drouin 30, Warragul 20, Maffra 16, Leongatha 10, Morwell 6, Wonthaggi 2.
15 & Under
Bairnsdale 67 d Morwell 20; Drouin 30 d Wonthaggi 17; Leongatha 46 d Maffra 29; Traralgon 30 d Moe 29; Sale 58 d Warragul 10.
Ladder: Traralgon 48, Leongatha 44, Sale 36, Bairnsdale 32, Moe 20 (119 per cent), Maffra 20 (100), Drouin 20 (78), Morwell 12, Warragul 8, Wonthaggi 0.
13 & Under
Bairnsdale 38 d Morwell 25; Wonthaggi 29 d Drouin 9; Maffra 29 d Leongatha 11; Traralgon 31 d Moe 14; Sale 47 d Warragul 11.
Ladder: Traralgon 48, Bairnsdale 36 (152 per cent), Maffra 36 (148), Sale 36 (136), Morwell 24, Moe 20, Wonthaggi 16, Leongatha 12 (75), Warragul 12 (44), Drouin 0.
