It was a tough day for the Orbost Snowy Rovers in round 12 of East Gippsland Netball, only victorious in two of the seven fixtures against Lindenow at the Lindenow Recreation Reserve last Saturday.
Both wins were in the juniors (under 17 and 15), where the Blues are in the running
to make a finals appearance in 2025.
They can class themselves a little unlucky with two senior teams suffering defeats by the narrowest possible margin.
The under 17s led the way with a hard-fought
44-33 win over a gallant
Lindenow outfit.
The Blues currently sit in third place on the ladder, locked in an intriguing tussle for two finals spots with Stratford and Lucknow.
Under 15 players Holly Hanratty and Jess Griebenow were both standouts
for Orbost.
The under 15s began the weekend in fifth place on the ladder and after a dominant performance (34-19), they now find themselves in fourth place, locked in a battle for two finals spots with Wy Yung
and Paynesville.
Hanratty and Leila Barnes secured the win for the Blues.
Lindenow claimed its third win of the season, jumping a spot on the ladder to sixth, with a one-goal victory in an outstanding match over
last year’s premier, Orbost Snowy Rovers, who remain in fifth place.
The Cats have put up some good efforts against superior opposition this season.
This victory against a side that has been on the periphery of the top four most of the season is a reward for the persistence shown by coach, Yvonne Porter and her young developing list.
Lindenow won 40-39, with Gabby Foster and Brooke Perrett both outstanding, while Lara Seal played her best game at top grade level for the Blues in their agonising defeat, in a match which could easily have gone their way.
In a low scoring “B” grade contest (22-17), it was the Cats who had all the answers when the game mattered most, holding tough in a match where both sides found it tough to score at times.
Kayla Shanahan and Tamara Heyne led the way for the Blues, who will sense that it was a match that they were more than capable of winning.
With plenty on the line, the Cats ran out easy winners in “C” grade, 34-18.
Lindenow is still in the running for a top four spot, so a loss never entered its mind, as it controlled the contest and always looked the winner.
It was another close result in “D” grade, which also went the way of Lindenow in a thrilling finish 19-18.
Several times Orbost looked set to clinch victory, only for the Cats to gain back the lead and the ascendancy.
Lindenow was too good for an improving Orbost Snowy Rovers in the under 13s, winners 36-21.
Orbost will host Lucknow this week at Lochiel Park.
