By David Ball
In warm, sunny conditions the Yarra Glen U18’s started the day up against Warburton Millgrove.
It was great to see both teams with 21 players with the promise of an even match up.
This proved to be the case with just one point separating the teams at half time.
After trailing by that point, Yarra Glen lifted in the third as the wind strengthened and with Callum Sanders taking control in the ruck the River Pigs went into the last quarter leading by nine points.
With the wind at their backs in the last, Warby took control in the midfield and found loose players as they went forward.
They slammed on five goals for the quarter to Yarra Glen’s one goal, with the final scores, Yarra Glen 5.4 losing to Warburton-Millgrove 7.7.
Goalkickers were: Alex Toscano 2 and singles to Lachlan Rutherford, John Pavic and Robert Pavic. Best Players; Brody Ricco, Callum Sanders, John Pavic, Alex Toscano and Robert Pavic.
The Yarra Glen Reserves came up against Yarra Junction as both sides were looking for their first win of the season.
Whilst Yarra Glen were winning plenty of the midfield contests they struggled to connect going forward and in a scrappy affair in the first half, Yarra Glen kicked a wasteful 1.6 whilst Junction converted well when they went forward to be 4.1 at half time.
The River Pigs started the third quarter with Oscar Grenfell and Lachlan Crawford controlling the backline as they kept Junction scoreless.
Yarra Glen added 2.3 and took a two point lead into the last quarter.
As Yarra Junction lifted in the last, the Yarra Glen boys couldn’t keep up with them as the Eagles piled on four last quarter goals to take the win, Yarra Glen 3.11 to Yarra Junction 8.4. Goalkickers were Matt McKenzie, Dan Kelly and Sean Sanderson.
Best players were: Oscar Grenfell, Keithy Gerovasilis, Nate Capuano, Lachie Crawford, Sean Sanderson and Nick McKenzie.
The Yarra Glen seniors were looking for their third win whilst Yarra Junction were looking for some redemption after a heavy loss in round 3.
The River Pigs had most of the play early and with Josh Hawkins marking strongly up forward and kicking accurately, he had all of Yarra Glen’s three goals at quarter time.
At the other end, Jayden Welch took advantage of an open forward line to kick Junction’s two goals.
In the second quarter, the River Pigs started to take control in the midfield and with plenty of run were able to continue to feed Josh Hawkins, both on the lead and one on one in the goal square.
As he piled on the goals, just about every time Junction went forward they would goal.
Jayden Welch continued to mark strongly and convert.
By three quarter time, he had five goals and Junction were 7.0.
This, however, was nothing in comparison to what was happening at the other end.
In one the great forward craft displays, Josh Hawkins was unstoppable, kicking 14 goals and giving off handballs for a few more.
Piling on nine goals in the third and another seven in the last, Yarra Glen ran out convincing winners, 25.19 to Yarra Junction 8.2.
Goalkickers – Josh Hawkins 14, Max DePina 2, Blake Binion 2, and singles to Aussie Smith, Marcus Kikidopolous, Sam Wood, Caleb Surplice, Jayden Capuano, Jae McDonald, James Brereton.
Best Players –Josh Hawkins, Aussie Smith, Ben Ashton, Caleb Surplice, Sam Wood, Jayden Capuano and Blake Binion.
In netball all the Yarra Glen teams came up against Yarra Junction.
In A Grade, it was a battle between 4th and 5th.
The first half was a high quality goal for goal contest, with scores locked at 26 all at half time.
Lara Wandin Collins and Maddy Hargrave continued to score well up forward but it was the defence of Elise Dobson and Jasmine Evans that turned the game in the third.
Yarra Glen took an eight goal lead into the last break and stretched the lead to run out with a well-earned 55 to 44 victory.
Best players were Lara Wandin Collins, Jasmine Evans, and Elsie Dobson.
Yarra Glen’s B Grade got off to a great start and lead 17 to 7 at quarter time and 32 to 14 at half time.
Yarra Junction fought back in the third but were still outscored.
Yarra Glen powered away in the last to win 59 to 25 in a dominant display.
Best players were Imogean Parsons, Jasmin Wood and Kayla Collins.
C Grade faced a determined Yarra Junction and had to work hard for a two goal half time lead.
They took control in the third with better ball control and great conversion in goal to move out to nine goal lead at the last break which they hung onto after a goal for goal contest in the last.
Final scores Yarra Glen 39, Yarra Junction 30.
Best players were Ashley Shanks, Annie Dietrich and Shani Bullard.
Yarra Glen’s D Grade started the day and took a 19 to 13 lead into half time.
They stretched this to 29 to 19 at three quarter time and finished the game off well to run out comfortable winners, 39 to 21.
Best players were Lily Dove, Phoebe Boot and Leah Haag.
Next week the Vets play again at Officer on Friday night, whilst the rest of the club all travel to Alexandra for a big challenge against some quality opposition.
