By David Ball
Yarra Glen travelled to Alexandra where the ground conditions were good and the weather fine.
Alex started the game dominating centre clearances and giving their forwards plenty of opportunities.
Some inaccurate kicking kept the River Pigs in the game as the visitors starting to break even around the ground.
With plenty of run from Tom Williams and Sam Wood, Yarra Glen were able to get right back in the game, kicking four late goals to be just eight points down at quarter time.
The Rebels came out firing in the second, running in waves as they got well on top around the ground.
In contrast to the first quarter, Alex kicked nine goals straight as even their miskicks were ending up as goals.
Yarra Glen struggled to win possessions and when they did, poor decision making and kicking saw numerous turnovers.
At half time, Alex was 62 points up.
As in previous games, the River Pigs played out the second half with a depleted bench.
They showed great fight in the third to keep Alex to three goals while adding one of their own.
As Yarra got tired in the last, Alex were able to continue with their run and carry game and added another seven goals to see the final scores, Yarra Glen 5.3 to Alexandra 24.10.
Best for Yarra Glen were Ky Hawkins, Chris Beattie, Tom Sullivan, Sam Wood, Kenny Barden and Oscar Grenfell. Goalkickers, Josh Hawkins three, Sean Sanderson and Richard Gurney
The Yarra Glen reserves were able to get a full team onto the ground despite a number of last minute illnesses depleting their ranks.
With Alexandra only a few spots ahead of them on the ladder, the River Pigs could sense the chance to notch up their second win for the season.
In a very competitive first quarter, Yarra Glen had plenty of the play with Will Duff and Anthony Delaney setting up a number of scoring opportunities.
Sadly they failed to convert and at quarter time trailed by 11 points.
This trend continued in the second as Alex added two goals to Yarra Glen’s one.
In the third quarter, Yarra Glen lifted with a great goal from Dylan McGaffin in his first game after breaking his leg in the first practice session of the season.
Maf Laloulu kicked his first goal as Yarra Glen outplayed and outscored Alexandra to be just five points down at the last break.
In a tense battle throughout the last quarter, Yarra Glen goaled late in the quarter to take a one point lead.
With only seconds on the clock, Alex was awarded a dubious free kick on the wing.
Unfortunately, Yarra Glen’s complaining saw a 25 metre penalty paid as the siren sounded.
A kick after the siren from 45 metres out sailed through to give Alex a five point win, Yarra Glen 5.9 to Alexandra 6.8
Best for Yarra Glen were Tom Matthews, Will Duff, Anthony Delaney, Charlie Berry, Dylan McGaffin and Taylor Bryans. Goalkickers, Josh Dick two, Anthony Delaney, Dylan McGaffin and Maf Laloulu.
Yarra Glen A grade netball travelled to Alexandra and started strongly bouncing out to a 19 to 8 lead at quarter time.
With a full list of players they maintained their energy and extended their lead to 17 at half time.
The second half saw the Yarra girls continue to dominate, with Alana McGurgan continuing to create from the centre as Lara Wandin Collins and Maddy Hargrave converting everything up forward.
Yarra Glen ran out convincing winners, 65 to 25.
Best players were Lara Wandin Collins, Kim Williams and Alalna McGurgan.
The B grade netballers started their game strongly to be 15 goals ahead by quarter time.
The Yarra girls were clean with their ball handling and didn’t give the Alex girls a look in as they continued to dominate throughout the game.
In a very consistent four quarter effort, Yarra Glen ran out easy winners, finishing off Alex 75 to 13.
Best players were Courtney Cochrane, Jasmin Wood and Ella Brown.
The undefeated Yarra Glen C Grade netballers took on lowly placed Alexandra and showed no mercy as they leapt to 18 to 3 at quarter time.
The balance of the game saw a very solid and even performance across the court as Yarra Glen went on to win 78 to 15.
Best players were Natasha Bennett, Riley Shanks and Sarah Orlandi.
Yarra Glen D Grade came up against the second placed Alexandra and started very competitively to be just 3 goals down at quarter time.
A very young and quick Alexandra were proving to be hard to stop.
They were able to force just enough turnovers to continue to outscore Yarra Glen in each of the last three quarters.
The final scors Yarra Glen 24 losing to Alexandra 35.
Best players were ruby Bennett, Steph Gibbs and Annie Dietrich.
Next week Yarra Glen celebrate a Pink Lady Day at home against the strong Warburton Millrgove teams.
