Netball
26 June, 2024
League's hottest netball teams face off in match of the round
Laharum, unbeaten and premiership favorites, hosts another form team of the competition, Rupanyup, who have won seven straight matches when round eleven of the Horsham District Football Netball League gets underway on Saturday.
The game features the two top goal shooters in the league: Caitlin Jones-Story and Zanaiya Bergen. Jones-Story leads with 347 goals, but Bergen is one behind with 346.
Rupanyup's Victoria Taylor and Jedda Heard, and Laharum's Rebecca McIntyre and Emalie Iredell will have their hands full as both team's goal attacks, Laharum's Madi Iredell and Rupanyup’s Maddison Morgan complement their shooters well.
Another battle to look forward to is the battle between Olivia Jones-Story and Meg Cashin in the centre. Both girls have had sensational seasons.
The team that stops the run through the centre and quells the influence of the forwards will win this game.
The other great battle is at Edenhope Recreation Reserve, where the Saints will host the Cougars in what is set to be a thrilling match.
The Saints are fifth on the ladder, one game ahead of the Cougars and Swifts, and this is a good match to consolidate fifth place for the Saints or for the two teams below to join them.
The Cougars are hitting the game in good form, with Nikki Hawker and Ruby Gordon combining well up forward. However, with the return of Blair Burke, potentially as early as this week, depending on medical clearance, coach Kylie King could have extra firepower ready.
"We are just waiting to see if she will get cleared, but when she is available, she is just going to strengthen our team a little bit more," King said.
Speaking of another potentially thrilling game, Harrow Balmoral hosts Taylors Lake. Both teams are looking for their second victory of the year.
The two teams are evenly matched throughout the court. Whilst the Lakers have more experience in the forward arc, if Tara McIntyre and Tori Dunstan shoot as well as they did against the Tigers, then look out.
The Swifts host Pimpinio, and a win for the Swifts could move them a game clear of the Cougars. Even though the Tigers are down the bottom of the ladder, they are a tough team.
In the final match, Kalkee travels to Natimuk with the home team buoyed by their second win of the season last week.
Natimuk coach Danielle Hanson said it will be tough and they want to build towards more wins.
"We have a full team back, and we will be trying hard on Saturday, but we just want to work on what we need to work on, and hopefully, the confidence can keep building, and we get another couple of wins," Hanson said.