Seniors football
On Saturday, the All Blacks travelled to Whorouly to battle in trying conditions as the ground turned into a mud pit by the start of the seniors’ game.
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The Lions came out hot and had multiple forward entries early but Mack Bodsworth had a remarkable game, taking multiple intercept marks across the backline, earning him the best-on-ground award.
Jesse Walker also had a strong performance, showcasing great form for the All Blacks and leading by example in the backline.
Although the Lions dominated the scoreboard for most of the day, the All Blacks showed great fight and never gave up.
Cody Crawford and Kyle Collison were instrumental, winning the hard ball and linking up together. Both players have had excellent seasons so far.
Jayden Brady had a standout game for the All Blacks, leading out of full forward, taking great marks and scoring three goals.
This weekend, the All Blacks will face Moyhu at home, with senior players returning to the side.
Final score:
Whorouly 17.8 (110) def Benalla 7.5 (47)
Netball
A grade
In Saturday's match, the All Blacks faced a fifth-placed Whorouly team.
After a tough week of training, the team anticipated a challenging day.
Although the players had a solid first quarter, they could not maintain consistency throughout the game, and Whorouly ran away with a 30-81 victory.
The All Blacks’ A grade side has struggled this year due to being undermanned, with different fill-ins stepping in each week.
Coaches Alara Jones and Georgia Spencer are focused on rebuilding the team and looking towards the future of the club.
Despite the current struggles, the team is determined to achieve success in the future.
Final score:
Whorouly 81 def Benalla 30
Best players:
- Ashlea McDonald
- Emma Sangster
- Eliza Walker
Reserves football
The reserves boys travelled to Whorouly aiming to continue their positive performances from the past month.
Despite missing several key players and having some players play up in the seniors, the boys embraced the challenge.
They acclimatised quickly to the muddy and wet conditions, putting the home side under pressure with repeat forward-50 entries.
However, inaccurate kicking for goal prevented the Panthers from capitalising on their dominance.
At half time, the coach urged the team to maintain pressure and composure in front of goal.
The boys matched Whorouly’s intensity in the second quarter, with Eoin Fitzgerald dominating the ruck contests and Brendan Moffatt applying pressure and winning plenty of possessions.
The boys went into the last quarter with a 26-point lead and ran out 26-point winners, showcasing their resilience and teamwork.
Final score:
Whorouly 2.3 (15) def by Benalla 5.11 (41)
Best Players:
- Eoin Fitzgerald
- Karl Mullins
- Brendan Moffatt
- Mark McDermott
- Joshua Kotvas
- Aaron Horan
Netball
B grade
After a good win against North Wangaratta the previous week, Benalla’s B grade team aimed to consolidate trained skills and consistency across four quarters.
Benalla knew Whorouly would provide tough competition and started strongly, establishing a five-goal lead at quarter time.
The shooters displayed their netball smarts and quality, while the defenders worked tirelessly against tall opposition, resulting in impressive intercepts and turnovers.
Benalla maintained its pressure offensively and secured a 34-76 victory, showcasing a wonderful team effort.
Final score:
Whorouly 34 def by Benalla 76
Awards:
- Brooke Bradshaw
- Bec Mathieson
- Sally Burgess
B reserve
In a crucial game against Whorouly, the girls anticipated a tough challenge but were ready to work hard.
Hannah Ely and Jemma Smith in goals were unstoppable, and Catherine Dennis demonstrated exceptional defensive pressure and versatility.
The defensive end worked tirelessly throughout the game, with Keeley Sheehan, Chloe Dods and Courtney Sammon shutting down the Whorouly attackers.
The team finished with a comfortable 29-55 victory.
Final score:
Whorouly 29 def by Benalla 55
Awards:
- Catherine Dennis
- Hannah Ely
- Courtney Sammon
Under 17s
The under 17 girls had a shaky start, with Whorouly scoring the first three goals; however, they quickly adjusted to the slippery conditions and began to play to their strengths.
Defenders Grace Cooke and Charlotte Quilliam stepped up and applied great pressure on the ball, while shooters Tiahna Neal, Kaylah Devlin and Lilly Robertson had an outstanding day, shutting down their defenders and securing a 39-30 win.
Final score:
Whorouly 39 def by Benalla 30
Awards:
- Grace Cooke
- Charlotte Quillam
- Kaylah Devlin
Under 15s
The Panthers faced a tough game against second-placed Whorouly.
The defensive end, led by Amber Renkin Seers and Immy Randall, worked tirelessly and created numerous turnovers.
Georgia Levy and Zellie Nicholls showcased disciplined pressure and solid transitions, while Heidi O’Halloran and Matilda Horne worked well in the ring, providing accurate holds and feeding.
Despite a valiant effort, the team lost by four goals, demonstrating a solid team performance.
Final score:
Whorouly 26 def Benalla 22
Awards:
- Georgia Levy
- Imogen Randell
- Caitlin Crowe
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