A long trip to Leongatha ended in bitter disappointment for Bairnsdale’s senior netballers, who suffered only their third loss of the season against the fifth-ranked Parrots in round 11 of the Gippsland League.
Ironically, the Redlegs’ immense success in producing Victorian Netball League (VNL) talent contributed to the defeat. The club was forced to restrict the court time of several key players ahead of a Gippsland Stars fixture scheduled for the following day.
A steady start saw Bairnsdale take an early lead, but inconsistency soon crept into the visitors’ game. Leongatha quickly gained a foothold as the Redlegs struggled to connect from their centre passes, allowing the Parrots to dictate the pace of play.
Enforced third-quarter positional changes handed a seven-point advantage to the home side, leaving Bairnsdale with a mountain to climb in the final period. To their credit, the Redlegs responded magnificently, progressively closing the gap to just a single goal before ultimately running out of time in a thrilling 45-46 finale.
Ruby Dunkley worked tirelessly throughout the midcourt, while Sally Deller made the most of her limited minutes to stand out. Dynamic target Anna Mooney was sharp under the ring, netting 29 goals. Despite the loss, the Redlegs remain in third place on the ladder, six points clear of fourth-placed Wonthaggi but now two games adrift of second-placed Moe.
In “B” grade, the undefeated Parrots proved a bridge too far. The Redlegs worked hard to stick to their structures and vision, but despite a determined four-quarter effort from Heidi Carter and Charli Young, they were ultimately outclassed by the ladder-leaders 41-75. Mia Ballinger led the shooting for Bairnsdale with 23 goals. Sitting in seventh spot and six points behind fifth-placed Traralgon, the “B” grade side faces a tough road ahead to sneak into the finals.
The Redlegs almost pulled off the comeback of the day in “C” grade after finding themselves trailing by nine goals at quarter time and 12 at the main break. The introduction of Liv Pearson to partner Ali Banson in defence, combined with several sharp positional changes, worked wonders in the third term.
Bairnsdale stormed back into the contest, winning the quarter by 10 goals to carry massive momentum into the last. However, with the game well within their grasp, they failed to find the composure required to finish the job, falling agonisingly short in a 34-32 heartbreaker at the final siren. Banson, Pearson and Brooke Soulsby all impressed, while Regina Virgo top-scored with 26 goals.
In the junior ranks, the under 17s bounced back emphatically from last week’s disappointing loss to Traralgon. The squad celebrated Ava Langley’s 50th game and Maizy Duck’s return from injury with a brilliant 52-30 victory. Tahlia Chila was instrumental in driving clean transitions through the court, and with superb support from under-age players stepping up, the outcome was never in doubt.
Duck showed great touch in her return match, while Langley (21 goals) and Pearson (25 goals) dominated the scoring circles. The victory consolidates the side’s second-place standing on the ladder, keeping them primed for a double chance come finals time.
It was no surprise to see a flat performance from the under 15s following a grueling recent schedule in representative tournaments. Locked away all square at half time, fatigue took its toll in the second half, leading to unforced errors and stagnant movement. Despite a best-on-court performance from the relentless Piper Crawley, the girls simply couldn’t lift, dropping the match 42-30 to a disciplined opponent.
Tulli McLeod finished with 22 goals but was starved of supply late in the game. The loss sees the Redlegs slide to fourth, meaning they have some work to do to regain a top-two double-chance position.
In freezing and foggy conditions early in the morning, the under 13 Redlegs produced a clinical, dominant 40-18 victory.
Relentless defensive pressure set the tone from the opening whistle, with clean ball movement and strong driving creating a mountain of scoring opportunities. An outstanding performance from Luca Smith (17 goals) as a strong holding target, alongside Ally Wood-Laird’s array of intercepts, laid the foundation for the team win.
Olive Evans was lethal under the post with 20 goals, while Bella Brodribb also earned accolades as a standout performer. Bairnsdale is currently locked in a fierce three-way battle in second place with Maffra and Sale on 32 points, trailing only the undefeated Traralgon.
The Gippsland League will enjoy a competition-wide bye this weekend, giving the Redlegs a welcome chance to recharge and refresh before returning to their home courts to host Morwell.
