In space: Nicole Lord calls for the ball.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
You can lead a Swan to water but you can’t make it swim.
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The Avenel A grade netball team travelled to the Lakers’ home court at Nagambie Reserve hoping to secure a victory that would propel it into a finals spot in the Kyabram District league.
Nagambie on the other hand was looking to go equal second in the standings alongside Tallygaroopna and Girgarre if results went its way.
The game fluctuated back and forth but it was Katie Sullivan’s Nagambie side that led by 10 goals when the final whistle was blown.
In control: Coach Katie Sullivan on court.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
Nagambie coach Katie Sullivan said the players always enjoyed the atmosphere when they played their local rivals.
“It is always a buzz around the ground when we play Avenel,” Sullivan said.
“With the Indigenous Round on the weekend and the sponsors day it brought in a lot of people.
“We always know the games are always pretty tough so we were expecting it was going to be a four-quarter effort. Each week this year we haven’t gone in full strength through injuries and players away so we’re trying new (player) combinations.
“We were impressed with Katie Perry, who has been playing for the under 17s and then also in the in the starting seven (for the A grade side).
“We were down by five at quarter time and in the second period Katie held Nicki (Nicole) Lord to three goals I think and we outscored Avenel 13 goals to five, which was a real turning point.”
Other standout performers for Nagambie were Keely Woosnam, who spent the full four quarters in goal defence and made a number of intercepts.
Hannah Tranter teamed up with Sharni Lloyd in attack in the last half and shot 18 goals from 18 attempts.
The win saw the Lakers step up into second place after Tallygaroopna was not able to match a dominant Dookie side, which along with Shepparton East is yet to lose after 10 rounds.
Sullivan has noticed the strength of all teams in the league this year.
“You really need to be on your game,” she said.
“It’s very close this year and it will come down to those final positions so it’s going to be important to get points against those top teams like Tallygaroopna this weekend.
“We picked up another injury on the weekend so we know there will be a shuffle again.”
Avenel remains within touching distance of a finals place, trailing eighth-placed Violet Town by two points.
The Swans can do their local rivals a favour on Saturday afternoon at Girgarre Recreation Reserve by handing the Kangaroos their third loss of the season.
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