Bats celebrates big milestones on court in round 11

Bright: 7.5, 8.7, 11.11, 17.18 (120)

It was a tough day at the office for our senior Bats up against Bright on the weekend, which saw Bright coming out and kicking a quick three goals in the first four minutes of the game, setting the tone.

In the second quarter the boys fought back, closing the margin to just nine points heading into the half time break.

Unfortunately this lit a fire in the Bright boys and they came back out firing in the third, gaining a 28-point lead, and the fourth quarter saw Bright seal the deal, taking a 69 point win.

Goals: Brush Haebich 2, Charles Hunter, Brayden Stepien, Dylan Beavis, Aaron Blackburn, Zac Amarant

Best players: Jamie Dunne (Peter Davis Rural Cash Award), Sam Gladstone (Goorambat Railway Hotel Award), Dylan Beavis (Gladstones Ampol Fuel Award), Curtis Anker (Hollywood’s Pizza Award), Zac Amarant (Royal Hotel Award), John House (Advanced Ag Thursday Night Dinner Award)

Reserves

Goorambat: 0.0, 2.1, 3.2, 3.3 (21)

Bright: 7.3, 13.3, 18.8, 27.16 (178)

Saturday saw the reserves take on Bright, and we knew it was going to be a big challenge as they’re sitting second on the ladder.

First quarter we let them get away with a few early goals that we couldn’t get back, although our pressure and determination wasn’t questioned for the whole game as we put some score on the board ourselves.

The lead was too big to peg back for the rest of the game but proud of the boys’ efforts as we keep improving each week.

Goals: Declan Lawford 2, Jack Trevena

Best players: Charlie Briggs (Bouwmeesters Bakery Cash Award), David Priest (Hollywood’s Pizza Award), Matt Priest (Royal Hotel Award), Mitch Dansey (Quality Wool Drink Award), Dylan Barber (Sportspower Award), Jonty Priest (The Early Bird Award)

Netball

A-grade

Goorambat 39 def Bright 25

A-grade came out wanting to play after the bye, and did so by getting a quick start on Bright.

Bright’s full court pressure was difficult to break, but the stand out was Ruby Richardson with her drive through the mid court timed perfectly to help break Bright’s pressure.

Richardson was backed up well by Molly Doidge and Chelsea Bamford also in the mid court playing crucial roles to get the 14-goal win.

Congratulations to Michele Button who played her 100th club game.

Best: Ruby Richardson (Riverbank Cash Award), Molly Doidge (Advanced Ag Thursday Night Club Dinner), Chelsea Bamford (Hume Solar Drink Award)

B-grade

Goorambat 38 def Bright 36

B-grade came out strong against Bright, with great defensive pressure all over the court and kept great composure thoughout the contest.

After the half time break the Bats came out hungry. Poppy Broomhall stepped in for her first game in B-grade for the year and held strong in the goal ring, while Kelsey Moss played a great game showing leadership across the court, reading the play and combining well in defence with Nikki Wallace and Fiona Doig.

Bright didn’t give up the fight and pushed the Bats to the last second, but the girls held their heads, playing a well-controlled last quarter and coming away with the win.

Best: Nikki Wallace (G & S Gall Cash Award), Kelsey Moss (Goorambat Railway Hotel Award), Poppy Broomhall (Hume Solar Drink Award)

B-reserve

Goorambat 22 def by Bright 41

The sun was shining at the Bat Cave on Saturday, with the eighth-placed Bats, coming off three wins, ready to take it to the fourth-placed Bright.

It was a hard fought game with the Bats only trailing by six goals at the half time change.

In a best on court effort, Chelsea Cole playing in WD and GK ensured she put the defensive pressure on Bright for the entire game. Paired in defence with Brooke Haddrell and Kirby Davis, all three defenders showed Bright that the Bats weren’t going to go down without a fight.

Unfortunately the day belonged to Bright, but the Bats fought hard, never giving up.

Congratulations on the day went to B Res player (and club president) Kate Nolan, who played her 200th game.

Best: Chelsea Cole (Muscle Mend Award), Brooke Haddrell (Goorambat Railway Hotel Award), Kirby Davis (Hume Solar Drink Award)

C-grade

Goorambat 18 def by Bright 62

The girls started off in a few new positions and took a bit of time to find their rhythm, whereas Bright came out strong scoring very quick and often.

With the new combination of Katelyn Russell and Lacey Carter in defence, the girls were able to increase the pressure on the Bright attacking players and make them work a lot harder to get the ball into the ring.

Unfortunately our girls were not able to bring it through the mid court as easily against the full court pressure from the Bright players.

With the switch of Charli Button out to centre and Pippa Martin back into goals there was a bit more court flow and structure during the last quarter, however, it was too little too late as Bright took the win.

Best: Katelyn Russell - (Willspread Contracting Cash Award), Charli Button (Hime Solar Canteen Award), Imogen Williams (Spot 4 Ice Cream Award)

U15

Goorambat 4 def by Bright 92

It was a tough day at the office for the young Goorambat girls. They went into the game a bit intimidated by the height of the Bright girls. They had instructions to keep to their game and to go short and sharp, as we couldn’t pass over the Bright girls.

There was some really great movement from the Bats and some great front cuts all day by Estelle Doig.

Defence worked hard all game, coming out strong and working hard for all four quarters.

Bonnie O’Callaghan came out firing each and every quarter. Havarna Long kept the talk up out there for the girls and really kept her head up even after a couple of mistakes were made, fighting hard to turn the ball over.

Best: Estelle Doig (Hume Solar Canteen Award), Bonnie O’Callaghan (Sports Power Award), Havarna Long (Spot 4 Ice Cream Award)