It was a massive day at the courts for Orbost Snowy Rovers in round eight of East Gippsland netball, with the hosts winning six of their seven matches against arch-rival Lakes Entrance at Lochiel Park.
Given the relative closeness of the sides on the ladder, most senior matches were tight and highly competitive, while the junior fixtures were largely dominated by the Blues. The emphatic victories by the under 17 and under 15 teams further strengthened their ladder positions, with finals appearances looking increasingly likely for both squads.
The breaks went the way of Orbost late in the “A” grade match, where a potent mix of experience and youth got the Blues home in a 55-52 thriller. Kirsty Herbert, Maki Edlington and Lara Seal led the way for the home side, who secured their third win of the campaign.
Momentum swung several times during the “B” grade fixture. Costly turnovers from the Seagulls were converted in style by the Blues, who held their nerve down the final stretch to win 27-19. Phoebe Seal and Zoe Jenkins were standout performers for Orbost, securing a second win for the season that should restore confidence ahead of the coming weeks.
The close contests continued into “C” grade, where the Blues held on late to withstand a strong challenge from the visitors, running out 25-22 victors to register their third win of the year. Gemma Geer and Zoe Kleinitz were highly influential in getting the home side over the line in a match that could have gone either way.
It was a similar story in “D” grade, though this encounter was primarily dominated by the respective defensive units. Orbost had all the answers late to finish 20-16 victors, with Nakeetah Rogers and Belinda Kleinitz leading the charge for the winners.
The Blues’ under 17 team now occupies third place on the ladder after a dominant performance against last year’s premiers.
With Remmi MacDonell and Emma Chapman in superb form, Orbost capitalised on Seagulls errors right from the first whistle to drive home a stylish 46-23 victory.
In the under 15 division, Orbost strengthened its hold on second place with an emphatic 34-14 win over a gallant Seagulls outfit that was ultimately left in the wake of a highly skilled home side. Leila Barnes and Mila Mundy were again standouts for the Blues, who continue to build momentum toward the business end of the season.
Lakes Entrance scored its only victory of the day in the under 13 match, where the fourth-placed Seagulls outplayed the Blues 45-14. Amira Barnes and Jools Morrison battled hard for the home side against a tough, improving opponent.
Orbost Snowy Rovers will head down the highway to Bairnsdale this week to take on a powerful Lucknow outfit at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve.
