Border Mail |
ALBURY suffered a surprise loss to Corowa-Rutherglen last week and will again struggle to pick up a much-needed win against WODONGA this week.
The Bulldogs are rolling along nicely, producing consistently strong weekly performances that allow them to hold on to top spot.
Their mid-court trio, consisting of Liona Edwards, Anna Avery and Sarah Thomas, is a well-organised unit and is giving shooters Bridget Hawkey and Bec Cameron easy access to the ball.
The Tigers need to settle their wing options to get stronger support for star centre Justine Willis and achieve the required consistency to feed the ball off to shooter Sarah Moore. Young defender Brigetta Hart is providing good assistance to Adelle Gormly and should do so again this week.
The Tigers will need to produce something special for four quarters to win.
VERDICT: Wodonga by five goals.
COROWA-RUTHERGLEN, which stunned Albury last week, needs to maintain that form against WANGARATTA ROVERS today.
Last Saturday’s win kept the Roos in touch with the top-five and they have plenty of talented and in-form players.
But so do the Hawks, meaning it should be an exciting game.
If shooter Jess Bice can maintain her accuracy again this week the Roos could well be in with a show.
But their defenders Sheridan Alston, Rowena Black and Simone Hanrahan will need to be at their best to stop Hawks Stacey Emms and Jess Clarke.
Beck Didier and Catherine Svarc are combining well in attack for the Roos and should have a good battle with Kristy Newton in the middle and Emma Tindall at wing defence. The stronger of these combinations will have a big effect on the result.
VERDICT: Wangaratta Rovers by two goals.
MYRTLEFORD had a very satisfying win against Wodonga Raiders last week but has next to no chance of getting another against LAVINGTON.
Saints Brodie Clarke and Paige Zamperoni rotated the centre and wing attack bibs successfully last week but against their Panther opponents will have a much more difficult time.
They’ll have to contend with a rotating midcourt that includes Ange Demamiel, Emily Browne, Rhiannon Dolahenty and Kate Yensch.
The Saints shooters, Bec Piazza and Saige Broz, will have to be at their best against Brooke Spinelli and Sarah Meredith while Myrtleford’s goalkeeper Celestine Ellen seems to have stabilised their defence.
Lavington won by 13 goals last time and the Saints will lucky to get any closer this time.
VERDICT: Lavington by 10 goals.
NORTH ALBURY will be looking to get back on the winner’s list with a victory over WANGARATTA this week.
In fact, the Hoppers would like a similar result to that of their previous encounter to help improve their percentage.
Percentage could well play a role in deciding the finals contenders this year.
North’s shooters, Jess Fisher-Curnow and Sophie Robertson, were on target last week and missed just twice for the game.
But they struggled to get their hands on the ball, with last week’s opponents Yarrawonga allowing the Hoppers just 40 shots on goal for the game.
The Pigeons had 71.
Hoppers Kirby Logie, Alex Wilson and Chloe Senior will find the Pies’ defence much less intimidating and should find their shooters more easily today.
VERDICT: North Albury by 12 goals.
YARRAWONGA should not have too much trouble in its clash with Wodonga Raiders.
The Raiders suffered their biggest loss so far this season in their first meeting with the Pigeons.
They will be out to make amends for that performance this week.
But for that to happen, they need defender Kath Fryer to be able to stay in the contest.
Fryer needs to support co-defender Hayley O’Neill for the full game.
They need to play well, all over the court, just to stay in touch.
If they can get the ball into the attacking end quickly — and give shooter Kelsey Herzina plenty of chances — the Raiders may be able to stay in touch this time.
But it’s unlikely, against a rampant Yarrawonga side.
VERDICT: Yarrawonga by 18 goals.
