By David Ball
Yarra Glen celebrated First Nations round at Yarra Junction, with both teams running out in their beautifully designed Indigenous jumpers, each design coming from First Nations players from the clubs.
Yarra Glen were keen to consolidate themselves in the top four whilst Yarra Junction were desperate to notch up their first win for the season.
In wet and windy conditions the home side started with plenty of energy and spirit.
They were moving the ball well with precise short kicking and overlap running.
After kicking the first goal early in the quarter, the Eagles kept the pressure on their more fancied rivals as the River Pigs struggled to move the ball.
They did manage a goal before quarter time to see Yarra Glen holding a slender 2 point lead at the first break, 1.3 to 1.1.
The second quarter saw the visitors getting control in the midfield, with on ballers Ben Ashton and Tom Sullivan starting to win contested possessions and Josh Hawkins capitalising up forward.
Yarra Glen added 5 goals to Yarra Junction 1.
At half time the scores were Yarra Glen 6.3 to Yarra Junction 2.6.
The River Pigs took total control in the third quarter, banging on 6 goals to Yarra Junction’s solitary point.
Josh Hawkins kicked his 5th goal, converting well from the clean entries Yarra Glen were able to make moving forward.
At the other end Yarra Junction worked hard but couldn’t find a winning forward.
Callum Morison and Caleb Surplice intercepted well as Jimmy Marks and the other defenders mopped up whatever hit the ground as the tight
Yarra Glen defence kept the Eagles goalless for the quarter.
At three quarter time Yarra Glen had a commanding 56 point lead, 12.3 to 2.7.
As the last quarter started the wind picked up and the rain came.
To Yarra Junction’s credit they showed no signs of giving up and showed greater endeavour to add 3 goals whilst Yarra Glen added only one point, despite many forward entries.
It ended up being a convincing 12.4 to 5.7 victory for Yarra Glen.
Best Players for Yarra Glen were Tom Sullivan, Ben Ashton, Callum Tucker, Callum Morison, Ryan Smith and Josh Hawkins.
Goalkickers – Josh Hawkins 5, Ben Ashton 2, Marcus Kikidoplolous 2, Ryan Smith, Heath Chamberlain and Chris Beattie.
With a full team the Yarra Glen reserves took on an undermanned Yarra Junction.
Having been well beaten by Yarra Junction in their previous two encounters, the River Pigs were keen to make amends.
After Yarra Glen kicked an early goal the game became a tight contest in wet and slippery conditions.
Stirling Twite-Moore was gathering possessions around the midfield as Yarra Glen slowly started to get on top.
At quarter time they led 2.3 to 0.2 and stretched this out to 25 points at half time, 6.4 to 2.3.
In the second half the experienced Ash Bryans and skipper Regen Daniel were gathering the hard balls as Daniel Kelly and “Keithy” Gerovasilis provided run out of the midfield.
Down back Liam Bull and Max Forbes repelled the few Junction forward moves as Yarra Glen added three goals to Junction’s solitary point for the quarter.
At three quarter time it was Yarra Glen 9.6 to Yarra Junction 2.4.
The last quarter was a real battle as both sides started to tire in the wet conditions.
The Eagles lifted to score 2 goals to the River Pigs 1, leaving the final scores at Yarra Glen 10.6 to Yarra Junction 4.5.
A great second win for the season for Yarra Glen.
Best players were Stirling Twite-Moore, Daniel Kelly, Dan Galbraith, Max Forbes, Ash Bryans and Liam Bull.
Next week Yarra Glen has bye and then plays at home on the 22nd July against Warburton-Millgrove.
Yarra Glen Netball D Grade started the First Nations round against Yarra Junction, with both teams wearing their special Indigenous designed dresses.
Yarra Glen’s Kim Christian was celebrating her 100th game and started well in goals as Yarra Glen jumper out to a 7 to 2 goal quarter time lead.
Yarra Glen was just a bit cleaner with their ball movement and with a tight defence were able extend their lead at half time to 8 goals.
The third quarter was a scrappy affair as both sides turned the ball over consistently and scoring dropped off.
Yarra Glen added 4 goals to Junction’s 3 to be 18 to 9 ahead at the last change.
Yarra Glen improved their ball movement in the last and a tight defence allowed only 2 more Junction goals as Yarra Glen ran out winners, 25 to 11.
Best players were Kim Christian (14 goals), Jayne Bashford and Molly Kehoe.
In C grade we had another milestone game to celebrate, With Lauren Bull playing her 200th game.
Junction started the game well and maintained great intensity throughout the first quarter.
Yarra Glen weathered the storm and held a 9 to 6 advantage at quarter time.
From the second quarter on it was all Yarra Glen.
The Yarra girls moved the ball well and converted well to outscore Yarra Junction in each of the final 3 quarters to run out convincing winners, 40 to 15.
Best players were Lauren Bull (17 goals), Jacinda Fraser and Courtney Cochrane.
Yarra Glen B Grade were looking to consolidate their spot in the top 4 against the bottom placed Yarra Junction, who were keen to get a win on the board.
The Yarra girls started well to take a 10 goal lead into quarter time.
Goalshooter Georgie Crundale was proving too strong for the shorter Junction defenders and took advantage of the quick and clean ball movement generated from defence into the mid court.
By half time Yarra Glen were ahead 22 to 6 and their dominance continued in the second half as Yarra Glen ran out an impressive 50 to 16 victory.
Best players were Georgia Crugnale (30 goals), Tiah Large and Chelsea Birchall.
Yarra Glen A Grade were needing a big win to stay in contention for a top 2 place.
The Yarra Junction girls showed great determination to thwart this and kept the quarter time score to just a four goal deficit as Yarra Glen led 14 to 10.
Junction continued to press early in the second quarter but as the quarter progressed Yarra Glen were able to stretch it to a 15 goal half time lead.
The third quarter was a real battle as Junction lifted their intensity and matched it goal for goal to keep the difference to 15 at the last break.
In the last Yarra Glen were only able to extend their lead by 1 goal in a hotly contested match.
Final Scores, Yarra Glen 57 to Yarra Junction 41.
Best players were Brooke McGurgan, Alana McGurgan and Gemma Ryan.
Next week all four teams have the bye before facing the strong Warburton girls at home on the 22nd July.
