Bats enjoy day out on court against North Wangaratta

North Wangaratta: 4.2, 8.3, 11.9, 12.11 (83)

The senior game against North Wangaratta was expected to be close, and it lived up to expectations with the scores close at every change, making for an interesting contest.

Aaron Blackburn was back to his best with some strong play through the middle along with Rhys Goodley up forward, whose strong marking and kicking causing a headache for North Wangaratta.

Zac Amarant played a good game at ground level along with the experience of both Travers Nolan in the middle and Ben Reaburn down back, standing up when the game was there to be won.

It was a good win away from home, and with players to come back from injury and the knowledge that better football is yet to come, it should give them some confidence.

Best Players: Aaron Blackburn (Peter Davis Rural Award), Rhys Goodley (Goorambat Railway Hotel Award), Zac Amarant (Gladstone’s Fuel Award), Travers Nolan (Hollywood’s Pizza Award), Ben Reaburn (Royal Hotel Award), Jamie Dunne (Advanced Ag Award).

Goals: Brush Haebich, Rhys Goodley 4, Brayden Stepien 2, Kobe Black, Travers Nolan, Jamie Dunne, Aaron Blackburn.

Reserves

Goorambat: 0.1, 0.1, 0.1, 2.1 (13)

North Wangaratta: 4.5, 9.11, 15.18, 20.19 (139)

The score on the day didn’t reflect the reserves game, with the boys having their share of the ball, but they weren’t able to put a score on the board. Credit to North Wangaratta, who were the better side on the day.

The two stalwarts Andy Ellis and Gary Priest were the best players for the boys, both tried their best and were in everything to help lift the team.

Grayson Kirk continued his good form with some good play, along with Will Hyland who did end up with two last quarter goals.

Best Players: Andy Ellis (Bouwmeesters Bakery Award), Gary Priest (Hollywood’s Pizza Award), Grayson Kirk (Royal Hotel Award), Will Hyland (Quality Wool Award), Dylan Brain (Sports Power Award), Nick Panuccio (Early Bird Award).

Goals: Willem Hyland 2.

Netball

A Grade

Goorambat 59 def North Wangaratta 14

The Bats came out strong on the weekend knowing it’s a tight top six this year.

North Wang provided plenty of physical pressure while our defensive end leading the way with Chelsea Bamford and Georgia Thomson provided us with plenty of interceptions and turn overs, while Ally Ellis also provided us with a strong attacking game in goals.

Sophie Hammond, in her first year of playing senior netball, made her A grade debut on Saturday, taking the court in the goal attack position.

Best: Chelsea Bamford (Riverbank Cash Award), Georgia Thompson (Advanced Ag Thursday Night Dinner Award), Ally Ellis (Early Bird Award)

B Grade

Goorambat 50 def North Wangaratta 29

It was a day to stand up against family violence on Saturday at a sunny North Wangaratta ground. B grade started strong and worked hard for four quarters never giving up.

Aneiki Pierce was back this week and worked hard in the ring to help get a good lead, combining well with Sophie Hammond.

Kelsey Moss was back where she is most comfortable and created plenty of turnovers down the defensive end, working well with Nikki Wallace who stood strong under the ring for plenty of defensive rebounds.

It was a fantastic team effort by all the players.

Best: Aneiki Pierce (Hume Solar Cash Award), Kelsey Moss (Royal Hotel Award), Nikki Wallace (Terry White Chemmart Award)

B Reserve

Goorambat 44 def North Wangaratta 23

The tables turned from the previous weeks when the Bats hit the court running.

The combination of Ella Woods and Abby Hammond feeding nicely to the movement of shooters Kate Nolan, scoring 29, and Erin Hernan, who scored 15 and had 18 assists.

The first quarter saw the confidence and court flow of the first round.

Defenders Alyssa Priest and Brooke Haddrell had plenty of turnovers and made it very difficult for the accurate shooters of North Wang.

Rotations in the midcourt and fresh legs kept the Bats running, gaining a lead at each break.

Priest had an exceptional fourth quarter denying anything to even make the ring with North Wang only putting three on the board for the last quarter, the Bats taking the win and gaining so much confidence in each other.

Best: Alyssa Priest (Muscle Mend Award), Erin Hernan (Goorambat Railway Hotel Award, Ella Woods (Early Bird Award)

C Grade

Goorambat 43 def North Wangaratta 20

The Bats came out strong with a bit more confidence, going goal for goal in the first quarter and leading by one going into the second quarter.

With a change to the attacking end feeders, Yolanda Bourke and Charli Button were able to get the ball into the ring with ease and convert on every centre pass. With amazing defensive pressure from Indy Stovall and Lacey Carter the girls began to pull away heading into half time, leading by nine.

The Bats continued to play strong structured netball, extending their lead. With an injury half way through the quarter changing up the team dynamic North Wang began to make a up some goals before the end of the third quarter.

A quick recovery from Charli Button heading back on court during the last quarter and into the mid court provided support down court, feeding into the ring and exerting defensive pressure across the court, getting intercepts frequently allow the bats to extend their lead to 23 goals by the final whistle.

Best: Charli Button (Willspread Contracting Cash Award), Yolanda Bourke (Hume Solar Canteen Award), Pippa Martin (Sportspower Award), Lacey Carter (Spot 4 Ice Cream Award)

U15s

Goorambat 13 def by North Wangaratta 49

The Bats took to the court on Saturday a bit sleepy and took almost half the game to warm up and start working together.

The Bats lacked the hunger for the ball in the first half while the North Wang girls played a steady game all game.

Going in to the third quarter the girls found a great little rhythm and started to work great as a team, snatching loose balls and attacking hard.

After a couple of changes, the ball movement from all players improved as the game went on and saw them hit a personal best on the score board with 13, which shows the growth these girls have worked so hard to achieve.

When they come ready to play, it just goes to show that these girls can and know what to do out there and end up playing a great game together. I hope the whole lot of them stick together for years to come and make an awesome little team as they all get older.

Best: Meika Smith (Hume Solar Canteen Award), Evie Ellis (Early Bird Award), Bonnie O’Callaghan (Spot 4 Ice Cream Award)