Yarrawonga’s A Grade netballers will enter finals with plenty of confidence after an emphatic 54–20 victory over Albury on the weekend, producing a commanding four-quarter performance to build some serious momentum heading into Saturday’s clash with the Wodonga Bulldogs.
With finals now just days away, the Pigeons delivered exactly the type of performance they would have been looking for — disciplined, relentless and defensively outstanding. The entire defensive unit deserves plenty of credit for holding Albury to just 20 goals for the match, with pressure applied right across the court.
Through the midcourt, Liv Lovell, Laura Irvine and Gemma Muldoon worked tirelessly to close down Albury’s options and create opportunities at the other end. Their pressure and defensive work allowed young superstar Maisee Pell to do what she does best — hunt the ball and take intercepts.
Pell didn’t miss a beat despite being without her usual defensive partner, Hannah Symes, and was beautifully supported by Kylie Leslie and Lauren Nolan, who both played important roles in keeping the Albury attack under control.
At the attacking end, the Pigeons took a little while to settle. By half-time, however, the attack had found its rhythm and the Pigeons began to open up the court. Once the attacking structure clicked into place, the Tigers had few answers.
The three-pronged attack of Bridget Cassar, Maddie Allan and Kaleisha Pell presents a formidable challenge heading into finals, with each player offering a different threat under the post. Kaleisha Pell was particularly impressive, absolutely dominating her time on court and finishing with an outstanding 26 goals in just over 30 minutes of netball.
That sort of scoring output will give opposition defenders plenty to think about as the Pigeons head into the business end of the season.
Awards:Maisee Pell, Kaleisha Pell
B Grade
Yarrawonga 48 def Albury 28
It’s always a challenge facing Albury Tigers, especially after the last meeting between the two sides ended in a thrilling draw. This time, however, Yarrawonga wasted no time stamping their authority on the contest, bursting out of the blocks with a dominant 17-4 opening quarter.
The goaling combination of Sarah Moore and Ellie Dickins proved a handful for the Albury defence from the outset, with the pair working seamlessly to convert Yarrawonga’s strong ball movement into scoreboard pressure.
Across the court, Yarrawonga delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, showing composure, intensity and teamwork to control the game.
While the victory was impressive, the side will know there is still room for improvement as they continue their finals preparations. Finishing the home and away season on top of the ladder is a fantastic achievement and earns Yarrawonga the valuable week off before the finals begin.
The break will provide an opportunity to rest, reset and watch closely as their next opponent is decided, with a semi-final clash awaiting the following week.
The result caps off an outstanding regular season for Yarrawonga, who head into the finals full of confidence and eager to build on their strong form.
C Grade
Yarrawonga 41 drew Albury 41
Yarrawonga and Albury battled it out right until the final whistle, finishing in a 41–41 draw. An incredible effort from the girls, with plenty of determination, teamwork and fight shown throughout the game. A well-deserved result for both teams!
Awards Milla Hicks and Sharni Dickins
Under 17s
Yarrawonga 39 def by Albury 50
In their final game of the season, the eighth-placed Pigeons faced seventh-placed Albury, eager to atone for their narrow one-goal loss to the Tigers earlier in the year.
It was a tightly contested match, with the Pigeons holding a slender lead at half-time. Lucy Pyle and Jedda Driscoll delivered composed performances through the midcourt on a warm day, well supported by Scarlett Mullavey, who made a strong impact in the centre.
Lila Henley once again stood tall under immense physical pressure, providing a reliable target in the shooting circle. Unfortunately, Albury pulled away in the final quarter to secure an 11-goal victory.
While the season may not have produced as many wins as hoped, the improvement across the entire team was immense, with the Pigeons producing some of their best netball in the final weeks.
Under 15s
Yarrawonga 36 def by Albury 42
What a way to finish the season! Yarrawonga took on Albury in a thrilling, neck-and-neck contest, with both teams fighting hard all game.
The girls managed to get in front and looked composed under pressure, but unfortunately Albury managed to sneak ahead in the dying minutes to take the win.
The team played some fantastic netball, sticking to their processes, trusting each other and remaining composed under pressure.
They worked together seamlessly and showed just how much they have grown as a team throughout the season.
Although the result wasn’t what we hoped for, the girls can be incredibly proud of the way they fought right until the final siren.
As our last game for the year, it has been an absolute pleasure to watch these girls grow, improve and develop both individually and as a team.
They should be extremely proud of everything they have achieved this season.
Coaches Award: Lily Leslie, Players’ Player: Winnie Heffernan
