The All Blacks matched up against King Valley on Saturday in terrible playing conditions, and despite the entire team putting in a fantastic effort, it wasn’t able to get over the line and went down by three goals.
Captain Meagan James again led from the front and took many intercepts, while keeping the team positive and focused on the job at hand. Sam Bochtler also had a great game moving between wing attack and goal attack where she demonstrated her strengths in work rate and precision passing.
Bochtler combined beautifully with Alara Jones in attack, with both shooting beautifully and moving extremely well in the wet and slippery conditions.
Final score: All Blacks 29 def by King Valley 32
B-grade
Benalla had quite a tussle with King Valley, however, didn’t play a patient or precise game of netball which meant it went down by nine goals by match’s end.
Once again it was the duo of Ebony Mathieson and Jen Pearce in defence who kept the team in the match and when the opportunity arose to take rebounds and grasp intercepts they did so.
Kellie Holmes also worked hard in wing attack doing all she could to support the team, and delivered the ball with accuracy to the shooters and created solid passing options on the edge of the goal ring.
Benalla will need to work hard on the training track this week to refocus and be ready to take on a strong Bright side on Saturday.
Final score: All Blacks 39 def by King Valley 48
B-reserves
The weather at King Valley’s home ground was against both teams on Saturday, yet the All Blacks produced a few periods of solid game play despite going down 28-44.
With Gertie McCallum coming up from under-17s, she gave the All Blacks speed in the midcourt and created space for the team.
Zoe Barber took plenty of intercepts in defence and talked it up in the ring with All Blacks’ goal keeper Jess Beaton, while Grace Bekins provided accuracy in the shooting end and worked the ring well.
Final score: All Blacks 28 def by King Valley 44
C-grade
Coming up against the top of the ladder King Valley, Benalla knew it was going to be a tough game on Saturday.
Despite going into the game nervous, the All Blacks displayed why they deserve to be right up there on the ladder as well, drawing with King Valley 31-all.
Starting from behind in the second quarter the All Blacks were able to fight back and trail by one at half-time.
With a whole bench rotation at half-time, the team was able to continue its consistent game play and level the scores at three-quarter time.
And despite having a three-goal lead within the final minutes of the game, team errors meant the scores were level at the final siren.
Jessie Ellis was able to put a halt to an accurate King Valley shooter, taking intercept after intercept when she came on in the second quarter, Chelsea Mackinnon was again pivotal in the goal ring, and had brilliant assistance from Mia Begley on the wing.
Final score: All Blacks 31 drew with King Valley 31
Under-15
Benalla had a great first three terms against a strong King Valley side, and went into the last quarter only four down, but mistakes and missing turnovers allowed King Valley to take the win in the end.
Diaz Matthews stepped up this week with her shooting, Gemma Matheison was a standout and never gave up, while Caitlin Timmers impressed in defence with her intercepts.
Final score: All Blacks 14 def by King Valley 21
7°C