The Northern Netball League produced a clean sweep in its 2016 representative campaign after recording two big wins over the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.
Just eight days after claiming commanding wins over the Southern Football Netball League, the NNL was again at its dominant best at Rye’s RJ Rowley Reserve on Saturday.
The under-19s led all day in their 37-23 victory, while the open team was even more emphatic in its 68-34 triumph in the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships.
Playing on outdoor courts for the first time at representative level, both teams handled the elements with aplomb and proved they are equally as capable on foreign territory.
In the early game, the under-19s raced to a seven-goal lead at quarter time on the back of an 11-goal to four opening quarter.
That margin was stretched to 11 goals at half time, with Eloise Whitcroft and Chloe Grimes sharing the load in the goal circle.
In defence Georgia Bowkett and Beth Garlick were nullifying the MPNFL’s attacking threats, keeping the hosts to just eight goals in the first half. Meanwhile, captain Kourtnee Baird controlled the midcourt.
MPNFL had the better of an attacking third term, closing the NNL’s margin to nine goals at the last change on the back of an 11-9 quarter.
After sitting out the third term, Eloise Whitcroft had a profound impact in the final quarter, shooting seven of the NNL’s nine goals as the final margin stretched out to 14 goals.
Kourtnee Baird took out the best on court medallion, backing up her strong showing from the win over the SFNL, where she was also adjudged the NNL’s best player.
Final score: Northern Netball League (37) def Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (23)
The open team was at its consistent best in its 34-goal win over the MPNFL, shooting a minimum of 16 goals in each quarter to run away with a 68-34 triumph.
The NNL got the jump on its host in the first quarter and never looked back after taking a 16-9 lead into quarter time.
The first quarter proved to be the closest of the match, with the NNL stretching its advantage further at each break of play.
Captain Stacey Gannon was dominant at goal attack, shooting 17 goals and helping to supply goal shooter Bec Colwell in the goal circle. Gannon’s performance saw her claim the best on court medal.
After shooting 42 goals in three quarters against the SFNL last Friday, Colwell was again in red-hot touch, putting through 51 goals – 17 more than the MPNFL’s final tally.
Leading by 15 goals at half time, the NNL’s open team took complete control in the third term.
On the back of dominant work in defence by Bonnie Smith, Jessica Beaton and Jacquie Harrington, and swift play by Bronwyn Taylor and Isabelle Conroy in mid-court, the NNL scored 18 goals to six in the third term to take a 27-goal lead at the final change.
The last quarter was much more evenly contested, although the NNL still had the better of the term to extend its final margin to 34 goals.
The result ensured the NNL stayed undefeated at representative level, having now notched six consecutive wins at open and under-19 level since beginning interleague netball in 2015.
The NNL congratulates coaches Jacinta Tonkin (open) and Sharon Ashworth (under-19) and their playing squads for their excellence during this year’s representative campaign.
Final score: Northern Netball League (64) def Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (34)
