PENSHURST and Glenthompson-Dunkeld have produced a true derby clash as the teams met at Penshurst Recreation Reserve on Saturday, with the visitors coming away with a one goal victory, 35-34.

The first half was close with Glenthompson-Dunkeld earning a two-goal lead at the long break, but it was the second half where the game really came to light as the players on both sides jostled to get the upper hand.

The home side fought back in the third term to even the scores up as the siren sounded to end the third quarter with each team walking from the court with 27 goals on the board.

With only seconds remaining in the game, it looked as if the home side had done enough to win, but a crucial turnover ball saw the Rams sweep the ball up court where they goaled and then from the centre pass, they did so again to claim victory.

Jane Robertson (27 goals) was brilliant under the ring for Glenthompson-Dunkeld, as was Erin Kinnealy (26 goals) for the Bombers, with the victory Glenthompson-Dunkeld has opened an eight-point gap on the premiership ladder over Penshurst which is going to be very difficult to retrieve.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur d Great Western

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR made light work of their game with Great Western on Saturday, as the Eagles won 64-29 at Macarthur Recreation Reserve.

Champion goaler Olivia Twaddle returned to the Eagles lineup and slotted home 45 goals with only eight misses as she put on a clinic against the Lions.

The home side not only attacked all game, but it also displayed a great defensive effort in keeping the Lions to only single figure scores for each quarter.

The Eagles remain third on the ladder and the top five remains as it was before the round with Tatyoon and Ararat Eagles both undefeated, while Hawkesdale-Macarthur, Woorndoo-Mortlake, and Glenthompson-Dunkeld are all equal on points with six wins and two losses, with only percentage separating this trio.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur coach Josie Barker has her team playing very good netball at present, but she knows that they can still improve.

“I am extremely happy with how things are going, and I feel as a squad we are improving more and more as the weeks go on, we have a lot of depth this year compared to last year which is great and I know I can back the players in to do their role when rotated around and called upon,” she said.

“I think we can work harder on doing the simple things well which comes down to fitness and intensity, so going forward the girls will be ramping up their fitness sessions over the week.”

Other games

TATYOON thrashed Lismore-Derrinallum at Tatyoon Recreation Reserve on Saturday, 86-22 to win by 64 goals and remain undefeated atop the ladder.

All eyes are looking towards round 10 when the top two teams meet with the victor expected to claim the minor premiership.

WOORNDOO-MORTLAKE was far too strong for Wickliffe-Lake Bolac as the teams met at Woorndoo-Recreation Reserve where the home side recorded a 63-28 victory against its visitors.

SMW ROVERS were on the road to Willaura Recreation Reserve where the Bulldogs proved to be far too good for the Pumas as the visitors won, 52-25.

ARARAT EAGLES defeated Caramut away from home with a scoreline that read, 48-20 which showed that the Eagles didn’t have everything in their favour.

Being undefeated after eight rounds, the Eagles were expected to soundly defeat the Swans, but Caramut refused to lay down and even though they didn’t show it on the scoreboard, they did keep the visitors to a well below-par score.

So effective was the Swans defence in the second half, they kept the Eagles to less than 20 goals for the second half, when the Eagles supporters would have expected their side to draw away and post 70-80 goals for the game.