By David Nagel
There were storylines aplenty after a fascinating round nine of West Gippsland netball on Saturday.
Bunyip blitzed the previously undefeated Tooradin-Dalmore, Nar Nar Goon joined a three-way tie at the top after a thrilling victory over Phillip Island, while Dalyston is breathing down the necks of the top-three after an impressive win over the Dusties.
And Cora Lynn and Korumburra-Bena have kept their faint finals hopes alive with strong victories on the weekend.
But it’s Bunyip’s impressive 69-35 victory over Tooradin-Dalmore that is the talk of the town with the Bulldogs’ high-scoring brand of netball proving too much for the Seagulls to handle.
The Bulldogs have now scored 493 goals for the season – averaging 62 goals per game – with the likes of Jasmin Mackie and Kyra Esler scoring more freely than any other combination this year.
Phillip Island is next best with 386 goals.
The Bulldogs have had two hiccups this year, but were both close losses – by five and six goals – against two of the three ladder-leaders, Nar Nar Goon and Inverloch-Kongwak, so their form is definitely stacking up against the best.
Aimee Wright, Chloe Papley and Ally Johnson are proving a gun trio through the midcourt, while Olivia Hunt, Sam Walker and Caitlin Wright are a strong combo in defence.
The Bulldogs rest up this week, before tough games against Phillip Island and Dalyston, while the Seagulls host Phillip Island this Saturday, before completing the opening round of home-and-away fixtures with games against Nar Nar Goon and Kooweerup.
Nar Nar Goon sits proudly in second place on the ladder after the Goon won 40-39 in a cracking contest against Phillip Island at Spencer Street.
You could tell early this one was going to be a thriller, with neither team conceding an inch in the first quarter.
Phillip Island started the better, with Lexi Walton (C), Christie Edwards (WA) and Jess Gysberts (WD) controlling the tempo through the midcourt, while Mel Cranston (GK) and Anthea Bennett (GD) were making life difficult for the home side.
And Lily Mewett (GS) and Ella Duggan (GA) were capitalising in goals, with the Doggies taking the early lead.
But the Goon showed great spirt to fight back, and by quarter time had brought the score back to 9-8 Phillip island’s way.
Meg Evans (GS) and Toni Dart (GA) really found their range, while Chantelle Dale (C), Karly Meinecke (WA) and Eden Evans (WD) started to rest back control.
And Holli Keysers (GK) and Hannah Carney (GD) ramped things up in defence with some great intercepts and pressure.
Nothing separated the teams throughout…but the Goon survived a great finish to take its record to 7-1, with games against Korumburra, Tooradin and Inverloch to come.
Phillip Island was equally impressive, but upcoming games against Tooradin and Bunyip will really test the Doggies over the next fortnight.
Cora Lynn has continued its steady rise up the ladder with a hard-fought 46-36 victory over Garfield.
The Cobras lost their first five games but have since improved rapidly, with a brave 34-43 loss to Nar Nar Goon in round five their last taste of defeat this season.
The opening quarter was very even, with the Cobras opening up an early lead before the Stars fought back solidly to trail 10-11 at quarter time.
The Cobras dictated terms in the second quarter, with Gemma Stacey (GA) on fire in goals and Bianca Douglas (GD) tightening up the defensive end of the court after starting the first quarter in GS.
Karla Brook (WA) was also having an influence, giving a fast-flow to the counter-attack, while Paris Toner (WA), Isabel Marsh (WD) and Georgie Kirkham (C) were keeping Garfield in the contest.
Cora Lynn led 25-21 at half time, and edged away further in the third to take a match-winning 35-28 lead into the final break.
Stacey (GS) was once again on target, while the move of Danielle Cameron (GK) into circle defence gave the Cobras a really strong look in the back third.
Garfield started strongly in the final term, but the rebounding and intercepts of Cameron and Douglas denied the home side the opportunity to narrow the margin.
Rhi Haines (GA) was rewarded for her earlier hard-running in WA with some last-quarter goals, while Ash Brady (WA) and Maddi Taylor (WD) also contributed to the victory.
The Cobras host Dalyston this week, while the Stars face an equally-daunting challenge against Inverloch-Kongwak.
In other games this week, Dalyston made it three wins on the bounce with a 57-33 victory over Warragul Industrials – cementing fifth spot on the ladder – while Korumburra-Bena secured its first win since round five with a 51-30 triumph over Kooweerup.
The Giants face a tough assignment this week, hosting a high-on-confidence Nar Nar Goon, while Kooweerup will continue the hunt for its first win of the season when it hits the road in search of Western Park in Warragul.
Inverloch-Kongwak had the bye against Kilcunda-Bass.
A GRADE: Bunyip 69 v Tooradin-Dalmore 35, Dalyston 57 v Warragul Industrials 33, Garfield 36 v Cora Lynn 46, Inverloch-Kongwak 20 v Kilcunda-Bass 0, Korumburra-Bena 51 v Kooweerup 30, Nar Nar Goon 40 v Phillip Island 39.
B GRADE: Bunyip 45 v Tooradin-Dalmore 50, Dalyston 70 v Warragul Industrials 28, Garfield 43 v Cora Lynn 33, Inverloch-Kongwak 61 v Kilcunda-Bass 42, Korumburra-Bena 35 v Kooweerup 41, Nar Nar Goon 55 v Phillip Island 34.
C GRADE: Bunyip 47 v Tooradin-Dalmore 11, Dalyston 61 v Warragul Industrials 10, Garfield 32 v Cora Lynn 17, Inverloch-Kongwak 52 v Kilcunda-Bass 22, Korumburra-Bena 25 v Kooweerup 31, Nar Nar Goon 40 v Phillip Island 31.
D GRADE: Bunyip 55 v Tooradin-Dalmore 13, Garfield 28 v Cora Lynn 24, Inverloch-Kongwak 29 v Kilcunda-Bass 17, Nar Nar Goon 74 v Phillip Island 9.
17 UNDER: Bunyip 32 v Tooradin-Dalmore 35, Dalyston 66 v Warragul Industrials 17, Garfield 12 v Cora Lynn 51, Inverloch-Kongwak 46 v Kilcunda-Bass 27, Korumburra-Bena 42 v Kooweerup 16, Nar Nar Goon 26 v Phillip Island 61.
15 UNDER: Bunyip 31 v Tooradin-Dalmore 14, Dalyston 28 v Warragul Industrials 23, Inverloch-Kongwak 38 v Kilcunda-Bass 11, Korumburra-Bena 34 v Kooweerup 30, Nar Nar Goon 26 v Phillip Island 40.
13 UNDER: Bunyip 2 v Tooradin-Dalmore 33, Dalyston 4 v Warragul Industrials 29, Garfield 16 v Cora Lynn 30, Inverloch-Kongwak 39 v Kilcunda-Bass 6, Korumburra-Bena 13 v Kooweerup 38, Nar Nar Goon 28 v Phillip Island 30.
11 UNDER: Bunyip 1 v Tooradin-Dalmore 11, Garfield 5 v Cora Lynn 11, Inverloch-Kongwak 28 v Kilcunda-Bass 2, Nar Nar Goon 34 v Phillip Island 5.
WGFNC NETBALL LADDERS
A GRADE W L D F A % PTS
Inverloch-Kongwak A Grade 7 1 0 359 219 163.93 28
Nar Nar Goon 7 1 0 365 268 136.19 28
Tooradin-Dalmore 7 1 0 355 264 134.47 28
Bunyip 6 2 0 493 266 185.34 24
Dalyston 6 2 0 326 237 137.55 24
Phillip Island 5 3 0 386 285 135.44 20
Cora Lynn 3 5 0 265 285 92.98 12
Korumburra Bena 3 5 0 278 329 84.50 12
Warragul Industrials 2 6 0 271 424 63.92 8
Garfield 1 7 0 296 395 74.94 4
Koo Wee Rup 1 7 0 176 438 40.18 4
Kilcunda Bass 0 8 0 0 160 0.00 0
B GRADE
Tooradin-Dalmore 8 0 0 515 269 191.45 32
Bunyip 7 1 0 423 209 202.39 28
Nar Nar Goon 7 1 0 399 222 179.73 28
Phillip Island 7 1 0 420 299 140.47 28
Inverloch-Kongwak 5 3 0 330 305 108.20 20
Dalyston 4 4 0 355 331 107.25 16
Korumburra Bena 2 5 1 291 334 87.13 10
Garfield 2 5 1 222 356 62.36 10
Kilcunda Bass 2 6 0 334 369 90.51 8
Cora Lynn 1 6 1 247 385 64.16 6
Koo Wee Rup 1 6 1 222 385 57.66 6
Warragul Industrials 0 8 0 216 510 42.35 0
C GRADE
Bunyip 8 0 0 361 86 419.77 32
Dalyston 7 1 0 297 156 190.38 28
Garfield 7 1 0 274 171 160.23 28
Inverloch-Kongwak 6 2 0 274 158 173.42 24
Nar Nar Goon 6 2 0 260 162 160.49 24
Tooradin-Dalmore 3 4 1 174 188 92.55 14
Cora Lynn 3 4 1 172 192 89.58 14
Phillip Island 3 5 0 215 227 94.71 12
Koo Wee Rup 2 6 0 126 254 49.61 8
Korumburra Bena 1 7 0 169 269 62.83 4
Kilcunda Bass 1 7 0 140 305 45.90 4
Warragul Industrials 0 8 0 114 408 27.94 0
D GRADE
Inverloch-Kongwak 7 0 0 309 121 255.37 28
Bunyip 5 1 0 265 102 259.80 20
Dalyston 5 1 0 238 110 216.36 20
Nar Nar Goon 5 2 0 262 135 194.07 20
Kilcunda Bass 3 4 0 167 189 88.36 12
Garfield 2 4 0 157 180 87.22 8
Tooradin-Dalmore 2 4 0 140 230 60.87 8
Phillip Island 2 5 0 139 284 48.94 8
Cora Lynn 1 6 0 146 227 64.32 4
Koo Wee Rup 1 6 0 117 322 36.34 4
Korumburra Bena 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
Warragul Industrials 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0
17 UNDER
Dalyston 8 0 0 383 176 217.61 32
Phillip Island 7 1 0 413 189 218.52 28
Korumburra Bena 7 1 0 318 164 193.90 28
Inverloch-Kongwak 5 3 0 298 218 136.70 20
Bunyip 5 3 0 273 201 135.82 20
Cora Lynn 4 4 0 270 223 121.08 16
Tooradin-Dalmore 4 4 0 259 229 113.10 16
Koo Wee Rup 3 5 0 189 250 75.60 12
Nar Nar Goon 2 6 0 210 264 79.55 8
Kilcunda Bass 2 6 0 182 284 64.08 8
Warragul Industrials 1 7 0 140 396 35.35 4
Garfield 0 8 0 66 407 16.22 0
15 UNDER
Phillip Island 8 0 0 285 117 243.59 32
Korumburra Bena 7 1 0 235 142 165.49 28
Inverloch-Kongwak 7 1 0 210 131 160.31 28
Bunyip 6 2 0 206 136 151.47 24
Nar Nar Goon 5 3 0 214 170 125.88 20
Dalyston 5 3 0 167 185 90.27 20
Tooradin-Dalmore 3 5 0 156 163 95.71 12
Warragul Industrials 2 6 0 162 240 67.50 8
Kilcunda Bass 2 6 0 145 219 66.21 8
Koo Wee Rup 2 6 0 153 190 80.53 8
Cora Lynn 1 7 0 121 201 60.20 4
Garfield 0 8 0 0 160 0.00 0
13 UNDER
Phillip Island 7 1 0 285 92 309.78 28
Warragul Industrials 7 1 0 223 86 259.30 28
Koo Wee Rup 7 1 0 246 110 223.64 28
Nar Nar Goon 6 2 0 254 96 264.58 24
Cora Lynn 5 2 1 172 92 186.96 22
Tooradin-Dalmore 5 2 1 126 69 182.61 22
Inverloch-Kongwak 4 4 0 124 109 113.76 16
Korumburra Bena 3 3 2 122 117 104.27 16
Garfield 1 7 0 92 210 43.81 4
Dalyston 1 7 0 40 194 20.62 4
Kilcunda Bass 0 8 0 37 290 12.76 0
Bunyip 0 8 0 25 281 8.90 0
11 UNDER
Inverloch-Kongwak 7 0 0 139 29 479.31 28
Nar Nar Goon 6 0 0 177 9 1966.67 24
Tooradin-Dalmore 5 1 0 61 16 381.25 20
Phillip Island 4 2 1 83 86 96.51 18
Koo Wee Rup 2 4 1 50 94 53.19 10
Dalyston 2 4 0 43 64 67.19 8
Cora Lynn 2 4 0 51 91 56.04 8
Bunyip 2 5 0 49 108 45.37 8
Kilcunda Bass 2 5 0 43 102 42.16 8
Garfield 0 6 0 16 93 17.20 0
Korumburra Bena 0 1 0 0 20 0.00 0
Warragul Industrials 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0