Roos fight Pies to stay a Cup contender
IT WILL be a showdown between the Kangaroos and Magpies when Balranald takes on Lake Boga in Sunday’s first semi-final of the Central Murray FNL’s A-grade netball competition.
The winner of the clash at Alan Garden Reserve in Swan Hill progresses to a preliminary final and it’s season over for the defeated.
Only meeting between the teams in the regular season was the 11th round.
Scores were locked a 43-all at the end of a great contest on Lake Boga’s court.
The Magpies scored a 38-26 victory in last Sunday’s elimination final against Woorinen as Sarah Hepburn scored 28 goals and Katie Hepburn added 10.
Balranald was beaten 50-45 by Mallee Eagles in the qualifying final at Woorinen.
The Roos’ attack was led by Madison Jess, 18; Ella Mirtschin, 15; and Jess Parry, 12.
In the A-reserve first semi, Balranald takes on Tooleybuc Manangatang.
The Tooleybuc Manangatang line-up will start favourite as it won at Balranald by 24 goals in round four, and by eight at home in the 14th round.
Balranald’s Kangaroos will aim to bounce back from a 46-51 loss to Swan Hill in the qualifying final.
Tooleybuc Manangatang’s seven-goal victory in the elimination final put Lake Boga out of the title race.
It’s the Tigers against the Magpies in the B-grade first semi-final.
The Tigers beat Lake Boga by a goal at Woorinen in round five, and then by seven on the Magpies’ court in the 15th round.
Woorinen’s finals series began with a 36-38 loss to Swan Hill in the qualifying final as Lake Boga marked a 43-35 victory in the elimination final clash with Nyah Nyah West United.
The B-reserve first semi features Nyah Nyah West United against Koondrook Barham.
Their only meeting in the home-and-away series was won by NNW, 34-25 in round nine.
Nyah Nyah West United is on the rebound from a five-goal loss to Cohuna Kangas in the qualifying final, while a 19-goal win by Koondrook Barham put Woorinen out of the finals series.
In the 18-and-under first semi, Cohuna takes on Swan Hill.
The Swans beat the Kangas by three goals in round five, but Cohuna bounced back for a 13-goal victory on their court in the 15th round.
Day one of the finals series included a 28-35 loss for Cohuna in the qualifying final against Tyntynder.
It was a thrilling elimination final in which the Swans beat Balranald by two goals.
Game one on first semi-final day will be the 16-under clash between Koondrook Barham and Swan Hill at 9am.
Their only meeting in the regular season was in the eighth round where Koondrook Barham won by seven goals at home.
The KB line-up will be determined to rebound from a nine-goal loss to Kerang in the qualifying final.
Swan Hill made a memorable start to the finals in a 40-39 victory in the elimination final showdown with Lake Boga.
The rising stars from Lake Boga and Kerang will contest the 14-and-under first semi.
Kerang won at Lake Boga by four goals in the sixth round and then 39-37 at home in the 16th round.
Lake Boga is on the rebound from an eight-goal loss to Tyntynder in the qualifying final, while Kerang marked a 36-19 win against Cohuna Kangas in the elimination final.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Alan Garden Reserve, Swan Hill:
14-and-under at 10.20am: Lake Boga v Kerang.
16-and-under at 9am: Koondrook Barham v Swan Hill.
18-and-under at 10.20am: Cohuna Kangas v Swan Hill.
B-reserve at 1pm: Nyah Nyah West United v Koondrook Barham.
B-grade at 11.40am: Woorinen v Lake Boga.
A-reserve at 1pm: Balranald v Tooleybuc Manangatang.
A-grade at 2.30pm: Balranald v Lake Boga.
Written by Nathan Dole.
Photo via Lake Boga FNC Facebook
