BY NATHAN DOLE
Eagles answer spirited challenge from Kerang
MALLEE Eagles withstood a spirited challenge from Kerang to win their A-grade netball match in Saturday’s round 17 action in the Central Murray FNL season.
The Eagles had home-court advantage for the clash between third and eighth at Lalbert.
Defences were well on top for a lot of the contest as Mallee fought on for a 32-29 victory.
Another closely-fought game was at Woorinen where the Tigers faced Balranald.
At the final siren it was the Balranald Kangaroos which led 35-30 in Tigers’ territory.
Results in the other three A-grade matches went as expected.
Second in the premiership race, Swan Hill scored a 51-34 victory against Cohuna Kangas at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve.
The ladder-leading Lake Boga won 64-41 against the Tooleybuc Manangatang Saints at Manangatang.
A 51-36 win by Tyntynder on Koondrook Barham’s court at Barham meant the Bulldogs kept the heat on the fifth-placed Cohuna Kangas at a round to go in the home-and-away series.
Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
Standings in the Central Murray A-grade netball competition:
Lake Boga 162 per cent, 60 points; Swan Hill 161, 56; Mallee Eagles 121, 40; Balranald 117, 40; Cohuna Kangas 96, 28; Tyntynder 90, 26; Woorinen 89, 24; Kerang 101, 22; Nyah Nyah West United 90, 20; Tooleybuc Manangatang 76, 12; Koondrook Barham 54, 4.
In next Saturday’s round 18 action, Tyntynder will face Woorinen at Swan Hill’s Alan Garden Reserve.
Balranald faces Tooleybuc Manangatang at Balranald’s Greenham Park.
Lake Boga and Mallee Eagles meet in the match of first and third at Lake Boga Recreation Reserve.
Kerang plays Swan Hill at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Cohuna Kangas are up against Nyah Nyah West United at Cohuna Recreation Reserve.
Koondrook Barham has the bye.
Round 17 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Swan Hill 68 d Cohuna Kangas 34, Mallee Eagles 53 d Kerang 52, Tooleybuc Manangatang 17 lt Lake Boga 47, Woorinen 48 lt Balranald 50, Koondrook Barham 34 dr Tyntynder 34, Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
B-grade:
Swan Hill 50 d Cohuna Kangas 31, Mallee Eagles 64 d Kerang 43, Tooleybuc Manangatang 7 lt Lake Boga 10, Woorinen 61 d Balranald 35, Koondrook Barham 32 d Tyntynder 31, Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
B-reserve:
Swan Hill 36 d Cohuna Kangas 22, Mallee Eagles 56 d Kerang 31, Tooleybuc Manangatang 20 lt Lake Boga 50, Woorinen 24 lt Balranald 50, Koondrook Barham 15 lt Tyntynder 40, Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
17-and-under:
Swan Hill 18 lt Cohuna Kangas 44, Mallee Eagles 28 lt Kerang 38, Tooleybuc Manangatang 43 d Lake Boga 41, Woorinen 55 d Balranald 16, Koondrook Barham forfeit to Tyntynder, Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
15-and-under:
Swan Hill 44 d Cohuna Kangas 15, Mallee Eagles 36 d Kerang 15, Tooleybuc Manangatang 19 lt Lake Boga 42, Woorinen d Balranald (forfeit), Koondrook Barham 27 lt Tyntynder 45, Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
13-and-under:
Swan Hill 20 d Cohuna Kangas 13, Mallee Eagles 36 d Kerang 14, Tooleybuc Manangatang 26 d Lake Boga 19, Woorinen 22 d Balranald 18, Koondrook Barham 27 d Tyntynder 19, Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
13-and-under reserve:
Swan Hill 26 d Cohuna Kangas 7, Mallee Eagles 14 dr Kerang 14, Tooleybuc Manangatang 9 lt Lake Boga 19, Woorinen 16 d Balranald 13, Koondrook Barham 29 d Tyntynder 9, Nyah Nyah West United had the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Balranald 141 per cent, 60 points; Mallee Eagles 142, 52; Swan Hill 124, 44; Cohuna Kangas 115, 38; Woorinen 121, 36; Lake Boga 124, 32; Tyntynder 102, 24; Kerang 77, 16; Koondrook Barham 70, 14; Nyah Nyah West United 72, 8; Tooleybuc Manangatang 56, 8.
B-grade:
Woorinen 137 per cent, 56 points; Koondrook Barham 129, 52; Nyah Nyah West United 133, 44; Swan Hill 130, 44; Cohuna Kangas 121, 36; Tyntynder 113, 32; Mallee Eagles 91, 24; Balranald 93, 20; Lake Boga 96, 16; Tooleybuc Manangatang 51, 4; Kerang 55, 0.
B-reserve:
Swan Hill 216 per cent, 56 points; Cohuna Kangas 178, 52; Tyntynder 124, 44; Lake Boga 119, 42; Balranald 126, 40; Nyah Nyah West United 87, 28; Woorinen 91, 26; Mallee Eagles 80, 20; Koondrook Barham 79, 12; Kerang 64, 12; Tooleybuc Manangatang 44, 0.
17-and-under:
Cohuna Kangas 93 per cent match ratio, 56 points; Woorinen 86, 52; Tooleybuc Manangatang 73, 44; Kerang 70, 42; Lake Boga 63, 38; Swan Hill 60, 36; Mallee Eagles 40, 24; Balranald 26, 16; Tyntynder 21, 12; Nyah Nyah West United 13, 8.
15-and-under:
Tyntynder 93 per cent match ratio, 56 points; Lake Boga 83, 50; Swan Hill 80, 48; Woorinen 75, 42; Koondrook Barham 62, 40; Mallee Eagles 60, 36; Cohuna Kangas 33, 20; Kerang 30, 18; Tooleybuc Manangatang 23, 14; Nyah Nyah West United 6, 4.
13-and-under:
Tooleybuc Manangatang 180 per cent, 52 points; Woorinen 152, 48; Lake Boga 119, 46; Koondrook Barham 127, 44; Balranald 128, 36; Cohuna Kangas 81, 28; Tyntynder 96, 24; Nyah Nyah West United 88, 24; Swan Hill 79, 18; Mallee Eagles 71, 12; Kerang 43, 0.