GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD has held off a determined Caramut at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve on Saturday in round seven of the Mininera and District Netball Association (MDNA) 2024 A grade season in a game that ebbed and flowed between the two teams before the home side prevailed, 50 to 43.

The home side had a battle on its hands from the opening centre pass as their visitors came to play aggressive swift netball and they showed that the lowly rung of the ladder they occupy doesn’t reflect their ability.

The teams swapped goals throughout the game as the ball moved up and down the court with few turnover opportunities for either side.

The Rams held a two-goal lead at the first change as goal shooter Jane Robertson missed only two shots to hand the home team the advantage.

By the half time break Glenthompson-Dunkeld gained a three-goal break and they didn’t allow the Caramut team to get any closer for the remainder of the game.

Robertson finished the game with 38 goals to be one of the Rams’ best while Jessica McLoud controlled the game from the centre and was awarded best on court.

The victory enables the Rams to cement their spot on the fifth rung of the ladder while Caramut remains ninth but is obviously much better than that.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur d SMW Rovers

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR made the road trip to Mininera Recreation Reserve and came away with a percentage-boosting win over hosts SMW Rovers, 69-31.

The Eagles are third on the ladder, equal with Woorndoo-Mortlake and Glenthompson-Dunkeld on five wins with only six percentage points separating the three teams.

With leads of three and 10 at quarter and half time respectively the visitors displayed a good hold on the game, but after the long break the Bombers came out and blitzed the Bulldogs with a 23-goal quarter to end all hope of a come-from-behind victory for the hosts.

The Eagles swooped on any loose pass or dropped possession to sweep the ball back up court to the waiting Indiana Ryan (49 goals) and Laura Sheehan (20) who enjoyed the huge amount of ball provided.

The visitors added a further 19 goals in the final term to outscore Rovers, 41-7, in the second half with Ryan and Josie Barker named as best on court.

Lismore-Derrinallum d Penshurst

PENSHURST will be ruing the game that got away after it failed to bring the premiership points home from Derrinallum Recreation Reserve on Saturday going down to Lismore-Derrinallum, 33-40.

The Bombers must rectify their shooting percentage after missing 38 shots on goal compared to the Demons, 17 misses, which equates to 71 shots to 57.

The visitors were behind by five goals at quarter time and 12 at the long break, but the second half was a much better performance as the comeback started.

Penshurst outscored its hosts 19-14 for the last half but couldn’t bridge the gap caused by the mistakes of the first half despite the amount of ball it enjoyed across the four quarters as Bombers’ player-coach, Leah Mirtschin was Penshurst’s best with great support from Mikayla Beavis as the pair created turnover ball in the defensive circle at every opportunity.

The loss drops the Bombers out of the top five to sixth place on the ladder and allowed Lismore-Derrinallum to join them on equal points but well behind on percentage.

Other games

TATYOON remains undefeated atop the ladder after the first seven rounds of the season with an easy victory against Great Western at North Park, Stawell, 68-30.

ARARAT is also undefeated and second on percentage after a tough win against Woorndoo-Mortlake at Alexandra Oval, 47-37, in the match of the round.

The Tigers sat third coming into the game and had a very real chance to claim a very big scalp, but the continuous pressure at both ends of the court took toll on the visitors and they now are fourth after Hawkesdale-Macarthur leapfrogged into third.

WICKLIFFE-LAKE BOLAC overcame a determined Moyston-Willaura at lake Bolac Recreation Reserve to claim its second win of the season, 35-26.

The competition now has the Kings Birthday long weekend off and will resume on June 15, which allows those players with niggling injuries to be fully fit for the next round.