Yarra Glen welcomed Alexandra to battle in fine but very windy conditions.
With the River Pigs needing to win their senior footy encounter to hold on to a finals spot, they started well by winning the toss and have first use of the strong wind.
Sadly, they were unable to capitalise and at the half way mark of the quarter there had been no score either way.
When Yarra Glen finally goaled, Alexandra answered quickly and followed up another to take a handy seven point lead.
Yarra Glen fell down going forward as they continually kicked to the advantage of the Alex defenders who were too strong in the air for the small Yarra Glen forward line.
Alex added four goals in the second with the aid of the breeze, using it well and keeping Yarra Glen to just the one goal.
The third quarter was a scrappy affair with the windy conditions causing issues for both sides.
Yarra Glen failed to connect and convert going forward as Alex kept up the pressure to see only a goal each scored.
Kicking with the wind in the last and with a 33 point lead, The Rebels were in control and whilst Yarra Glen produced their best quarter of the game, kicking three goals into the wind, it was too little too late as they went down Yarra Glen 6.4 to Alexandra 13.9.
Best for Yarra Glen: Jayden Capuano, Simon Van Der Westhuizen, Aussie Smith, Blake Binion, Marcus Kikidopolous, Dylan Jarvis.
Goalkickers: Blake Binion 2, Kurt Raymond, Jake Ferris, Aussie Smith and Max DePina 1 each.
The Yarra Glen Reserves were looking to back up last week’s win but they struggled in the difficult conditions into the wind in the first and found themselves 38 points down at quarter time.
Whilst Heath Chamberlain battle hard and goaled for Yarra Glen, they turned the ball over too often as Alex added four goals.
The undermanned River Pigs battled hard in the second half and only conceded the five goals.
Yarra Glen were well beaten, losing 1.1 to Alexandra 14.16.
Best players: Heath Chamberlain, Matt McKenzie, Keithy Gerovasilis, Max Murphy, Dylan Harding, Alastair Lowrie.
Goalkickers: Heath Chamberlain.
The Under 18’s played Alexandra for the second week in a row, needing a win to get themselves back in the race for finals.
Down on numbers with a few injuries, Yarra Glen had to battle into the strong wind in the first quarter.
They were able to restrict Alex to just the one, with desperate defence contributing to Alex’s six points.
Whilst being only 12 points down at quarter, the Yarra Glen boys couldn’t make any headway using the wind and failed to score in the second.
In a great third quarter effort, Yarra Glen outscored Alexandra to go into three quarter time just 12 points down and coming home with a strong wind.
Whilst the ball spent all of the last quarter in Yarra Glen’s forward line, the Alex pressure and the swirling wind made it difficult to score.
Yarra Glen had their chances but could only kick points to lose by nine points, Yarra Glen 1.1 to Alexandra 2.
Best players: Xander Dalton, Lincoln Brain, Spencer Boers, Callum Sanders, Sam Gloury, Alastair Lowrie.
Goalkicker, Callum Sanders.
The Yarra Glen netballers also faced Alexandra and with the strong wind shooting goals was going to be a challenge.
The Yarra Glen A Grade girls got off to a great start and led 20 to five at quarter time.
In the second and third quarters, they continued to dominate and stretched their lead to 27 at the last change.
Lara Wandin-Collins and Georgia Crundale were combing well in goals and the defence was tight.
To their credit, the Alex girls kept fighting and outscored the Yarra girls, who finished with a 56 to 37 victory.
Best Players: Lara Wandin-Collins, Georgia Crundale, Gemma Ryan.
Yarra Glen B Grade sitting fourth on the ladder needed a win to solidify their place.
They started well and after leading 17 to five at quarter time, they continued to consistently convert going forward and defended well to run out with a comfortable 59 to 22 win.
Best Players: Meaghan Carter, Imojean Parsons, Skye Corrigan.
The Yarra Glen C Grade went goal for goal with their Alex opponents in the first quarter.
In a great second quarter they played some of their best netball for a while to take a six goal lead into the main break.
Adding 10 goals to seven in the third set them up for a solid 39 to 31 victory.
Best players were: Abbey Page, Ash Shanks, Tayla Pinkster.
With D Grade starting the day for Yarra Glen, they had to battle a strong wind as they took on Alexandra, a team that beat them in their earlier encounter.
Needing a win to keep a finals place in the frame, they showed great early form to be six goals up at quarter time.
In the second and third quarters, they stared to master the conditions to go into the last quarter 11 goals ahead.
Whilst only being able to add one goal in the last, the strengthening wind also made it difficult for Alex to score enough to put any real pressure on Yarra Glen, who finished with a well-earned 23 to 16 victory.
Best players: Ruby Bennett, Phoebe Boot, Lily Dove.
Next week Yarra Glen Vets travel to Mt Evelyn for a 5pm start on Saturday, whilst all the other teams have a bye.
