By David Ball
As part of first Nations Round Yarra Glen took on Yarra Junction in a battle between two teams at the foot of the ladder.
After the opening celebration featuring a welcome to country and a smoking ceremony, it was Yarra Junction that came out on fire.
They showed great intensity both in their defensive pressure and their attacking run.
Yarra Glen turned the ball over with poorly directed chip kicks whilst Junction were finding loose players with precise kicking.
Up forward the Eagles coach, Leigh McCombe was proving too strong in the air for the undersized River Pig defence.
Trailing by four goals at quarter time Yarra Glen started the second quarter with an improved effort around the ball and were doing all the attacking for most of the quarter but failed to connect going forward.
Junction added three late goals to be 37 points up at half time.
In the third quarter, the River Pigs continued to turn the ball over with Luke Spalding intercepting many of the River Pig’s forward moves and with McCombe returning to the forward line after copping an ill disciplined yellow card, Junction stretched their lead to 48 points at the last break.
A move of Caleb Surplice into the ruck stopped Troy Armstrong from setting up the centre clearances for Junction as Yarra Glen controlled play in the last quarter.
As Junction tired in the last, the River Pigs were able to add some respect to the scoreboard as they added three goals while keeping Yarra Junction scoreless.
In the end, it was too little too late as Junction proved be too good to see Yarra Glen go down 6.7 to 10.9.
Best players for Yarra Glen were Chris Webber, Marcus Kikidopolous, Noah Battle, Caleb Surplice, Sam Wood and Chris Beattie.
Goalkickers. Josh Hawkins three, Marcus Kikidopolous two, James Brereton one.
The Yarra Glen reserves were looking to win their first game of the season against an undermanned Yarra Junction.
They found the Eagles to be harder at the ball in the early exchanges and at quarter time Yarra Junction were in control leading 2.3 to the River Pigs 1.0.
Yarra Glen lifted in the second quarter, winning more of the contests in the midfield and adding two goals to Junction’s one for the quarter.
At half time, the scores were level at 3.4 each.
Yarra Junction threw everything at the River Pigs in the third and only the pressure from the Yarra Glen defence limited the difference at three quarter time to four points.
In a desperate last quarter the River Pigs were well served by Will Duff and Daniel Kelly in the midfield with Sean Sanderson up forward finishing with three goals.
With the River Pigs kicking two early goals to take the lead, they hung on by four points to come away with a well deserved first win for the season.
Final scores Yarra Glen 7.7 to Yarra Junction 6.9.
Best players were Will Duff, Lachlan Crawford, Daniel Kelly, Taylor Bryans, Luke Harris and Kobey Jarvis.
Goalkickers, Sean Sanderson three, Daniel Kelly two, Taylor Bryans and Dylan Harding one.
Yarra Glen A grade netball team came up against a very determined Yarra Junction.
With a few regulars missing, Yarra Glen started slowly.
Although leading 16 to 12 at quarter time, the River Pig ladies were struggling to get on top of a very competitive Eagles outfit.
In the second quarter both teams added 14 goals leaving the half time margin at four goals.
In the second half the Yarra Glen girls lifted their intensity and connection to take control of the game.
Yarra Glen came away with a hard fought 65-47 victory.
Best players were Katelyn Vanderkolk, Alana McGurgan and Lara Wandin-Collins.
Yarra Glen B grade were looking to reverse the result from earlier in the year when they were beaten easily by Yarra Junction.
They started strongly and lead 15 to six at quarter time.
The second quarter mirrored the first as the Yarra Glen girls continued to defend strongly and connect well going forward.
They did not let up in the second half as they continued their great run of form to run away convincing winners, 56-24.
Best players were Edana Lacey in her 150th game, Prue Morse and Ellie Estcourt.
Yarra Glen C Grade started strongly as they looked to keep their unbeaten streak intact.
With a miserly defence keeping Junction to just three goals at quarter, Yarra Glen maintained a midcourt dominance and had stretched the lead to 18 goals by three quarter time.
To Junction’s credit they continued to work hard keeping the final difference to 18 as Yarra Glen ended up as winners 37-19.
Best players were Natasha Bennett, Ash Shanks and Courtney Cochrane
After losing last week, Yarra Glen’s D grade were keen to make amends and showed it as they raced to a 13 to 1 lead at quarter time against Yarra Junction.
The River Pig girls maintained their intensity for all four quarters as the defenders completed numerous intercepts and linking up well through the mid court.
In attack, the goalshooters were on song as Yarra Glen ran out convincing winners 35-5.
Best players were Sarah Matthews, Annabelle Forsyth and Annie Dietrich.
Next week all Yarra Glen teams travel to Yea.
