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.