Netball

PENSHURST is looking to bring home another win when it hosts Woorndoo-Mortlake to headline round nine of the Mininera and District Netball Association (MDNA) A grade today.
After starting the season 1-2, the Bombers have won their last four games to sit in fourth position on the ladder.
Woorndoo-Mortlake sits with a season record of 3-3 which leaves it just outside the top five and today’s game is important to keep touch with the rest of the teams shaping up to play finals.
Penshurst A grade coach, Sinaed Hasell said the team was feeling good after a string of wins and hoped to bring the momentum into the clash against the Tigers.
“We have had a nice little run of wins, which is good, but it’s best not to get ahead of ourselves and focus on that too much,” she told The Spectator.
“We are building each week, and every time we step on court things are feeling much more comfortable and calm, we’re definitely heading in the right direction.
“This year is always a bit of an unknown until we’ve played everyone, so no real expectations, apart from being prepared for a tough game no matter what.”
Hasell knew Woorndoo-Mortlake could bring the heat today but backed her team to put in another four-quarter effort and play their roles.
“Woorndoo (Mortlake) are always a strong team and a tough challenge … they are quite a strong defensive side, so we just need to make sure we are patient and willing to work for the ball for the entire game,” she said.
“We’re probably coming off one of our best games in that respect (intensity for four quarters) against Rovers on the weekend … consistency is becoming much better in our games.
“Firstly, (the goal is) to cement our spot in the top five, but we also want to push for that third position on the ladder to give ourselves the extra chance come finals time.”
Other games
CARAMUT will host Ararat Eagles today in what will likely be a tough challenge for the home side, which has struggled in the past couple weeks losing its last two games to fall to 2-4 for the season.
SMW ROVERS and Moyston-Willaura will be determined to put their best foot forward and bring home the win today when they match up at Mininera.
GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD will be hoping to get its second win for the year when it takes on a winless Great Western side at Glenthompson.
The Lions will be hungry for their first win, and this may be one of their best opportunities to achieve this, while the Rams will look to stamp their authority on Great Western in a bid to jump a couple of spots on the ladder.
TATYOON is the only undefeated side in the A grade netball so far this season and the Hawks will look at their match-up against Lismore-Derrinallum the same as every other week.
While the Demons sit in fifth position, they will need to be ultra-aggressive at the attacking end and defend well to get the win.

Football

PENSHURST will be out to keep touch with the top three when the Bombers host Woorndoo-Mortlake in Mininera and District Football League action today.

The round nine clash will be pivotal to both teams with the red and black a game clear of the fifth-placed visitors, setting up a big match-up.

Bombers coach, Cameron Penny said he was aware how important a win would be for the team.

“No doubt this is our biggest contest of the year,” he said.

“Woorndoo-Mortlake in my opjnion is right up there as one of the benchmarks of the league and we are going to have to bring everything we have been doing.

“They are a very even side, but you don’t have to go too much further than their coach, Tyson Hogan, who is a big midfielder and can take big marks and go forward and kick goals.

“(Jordan) Buckley is coming off a fair bag as well.”

The balanced approach of the Bombers has also stood out with the spread of goal kickers giving the midfield multiple options to target.

During last week’s win against SMW Rovers, 10 Penshurst players scored goals.

“That has definitely been the strength of us this year, how even we are across the lines,” Penny said.

“It is definitely a team effort and that encapsulates how we want to play.

“We are not the tallest team in the comp, but we are definitely a fast team and we will be looking to exploit our strengths and conscious Woorndoo likes it in the clinch and we will have to match them.”

Other games

CARAMUT will be at home against the Ararat Eagles in what will be a tough task for the Swans to overcome, while the Rams will host Great Western at Glenthompson, the first game of the season at their second home, and should win comfortably.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur will travel to Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve to take on the Magpies in a game the home side will be slight favourite to win, while SMW Rovers and Moyston-Willaura will face-off at Mininera.

Tatyoon and Lismore-Derrinallum will face-off in Hawks territory in what shapes up to be match of the round and is a top three clash.