A Grade
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Lavington 43 defeated Yarrawonga 40
The A Grade Pigeons welcomed back Kaleisha Pell for an appearance, with the older Pell returning on loan from Geelong League club Grovedale.
Maisee Pell also lined up in defence, giving Yarrawonga the benefit of having a Pell at either end.
Meanwhile, regular shooter Bridget Cassar made the trip to Melbourne to take in the Super League Grand Final.
In a tough, physical contest against an in-form Lavington outfit, Kaleisha Pell immediately made her presence felt, providing plenty of drive and composure under the ring with Maddy Allan. Yarrawonga also showed its versatility, with Eva Cummins spending time in Centre and working hard to help maintain the Pigeons' intensity through the middle of the court.
Lavington's relentless defensive pressure forced several uncharacteristic passing errors from the Pigeons, preventing them from breaking away on the scoreboard despite matching it with their opponents for much of the afternoon.
The contest remained a tense, hard-fought affair throughout but the visitors' attacking combination found another gear in the final quarter, capitalising on Pigeon errors to snatch the lead for the first time late.
Despite Yarrawonga fighting until the final whistle, Lavington held its nerve to secure a nail-biting three-goal victory.
Awards: Kaleisha Pell, Kylie Leslie.
B Grade
Lavington 48 defeated Yarrawonga 40
Yarrawonga B Grade fought hard but fell short against Lavington, going down 40–48 after a slow start proved costly.
Lavington came out with strong intent, controlling the opening half and establishing a lead that put Yarrawonga on the back foot.
Despite trailing at the main break, Yarrawonga showed plenty of determination in the second half, lifting their intensity and gradually chipping away at the margin.
The home side produced some good netball after half time, with improved ball movement and defensive pressure helping them claw their way back into the contest. However, Lavington remained composed when it mattered most, responding to every challenge and maintaining their advantage until the final whistle.
While the loss continues an up-and-down season for Yarrawonga, credit must go to Lavington, who delivered a strong four-quarter performance and deservedly took home the points with a 48–40 victory.
C Grade
Lavington 46 defeated Yarrawonga 43
Yarrawonga C Grade faced Lavington in a crucial clash, with both teams fighting to cement their place in the top three.
After Lavington claimed a convincing win in the last meeting, this contest was a completely different story.
It was a true nail-biter from start to finish, with the scores going goal for goal for much of the game.
Both sides had their moments in front, making for an entertaining and hard-fought contest.
Yarrawonga found themselves six goals down early in the third quarter but refused to back down.
The team showed great determination and fought their way back in the final term, closing the margin to just one goal. Unfortunately, time wasn’t on their side, and Lavington held on to secure the win.
While the result didn’t fall the team’s way, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.
With opportunities still ahead to secure a finals berth, the focus now shifts to building on this effort and continuing to play strong netball throughout the second half of the season.
Awards: Sophie Wilson and Kristy Davis.
Under 17s
Lavington 67 defeated Yarrawonga 28
The Under 17s put in a determined performance against Lavington at home, despite finishing on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
A huge help from fill-ins Chloe Lidell and sisters Emily and Lucy Judd, allowed the team to take the court with a strong team.
The defenders worked tirelessly with great intensity, creating plenty of turnovers through strong pressure and teamwork.
The midcourters and shooters made the most of these opportunities, moving the ball well and converting turnovers into scoring opportunities.
While Lavington proved to be the stronger side on the day, our girls showed plenty of effort, resilience and teamwork, leaving the girls with lots of positives to build on.
Under 15s
Lavington 37 defeated Yarrawonga 35
The Under 15s put in another fantastic performance against Lavington, going down by just two goals in a closely contested match.
It was a great result, especially considering the team was missing four players.
The girls showed great determination, staying in the contest from the first whistle to the last and never giving up.
They worked exceptionally well together as a team throughout the game. Their attack end remained patient and composed, creating plenty of opportunities, while the defensive end worked tirelessly to apply pressure and keep the girls in the game.
Overall, it was a fantastic team effort. The girls are really starting to hit their stride and have improved so much throughout the season. The coaches couldn’t be prouder of their effort and teamwork.
Coach’s Award: Makayla George. Payers’ Player: Ruby Driscoll.