Lakes Entrance and Stratford shared the senior netball victories in their round 14 East Gippsland Netball clash at Boyd Reserve in Stratford.
The “A” grade clash was a high quality match, the seventh-ranked Seagulls taking the match right up to the third-ranked Swans in a tough defensive match up.
Lakes Entrance surprised Stratford with its mid court presence and ability to deliver a fast paced ball in attack in the first quarter, as it opened up a two-goal lead at quarter time.
The Swans changed their focus in the second term, rushing periods of play that saw the Seagulls make crucial errors, which saw the lead at half time Stratford’s by three goals.
The Lakes Entrance coaching staff made some significant positional changes to the line-up in the third term, which lifted the intensity of the match, the ball hotly contested, but the Swans showed their class, weathering the storm to open up a seven-goal buffer with a quarter to play.
Despite the Seagulls remaining competitive and strong through the mid court in the final quarter, Stratford continued to ram home the advantage, impressive 11-goal winners over a gallant Lakes Entrance team that played above its current ladder position.
Among the best for the Seagulls were Indi Allen, Abbey Yeates and Olivia Borley.
The third-placed Lakes Entrance won its eighth match of the season in “B” grade, recovering from a slow start, overwhelming the Swans late in a tough match.
Stratford led by two goals at quarter time, before the Seagulls fought back to lead by a goal at half time, with nothing separating the two combatants at three quarter time.
When it was needed, the Seagulls lifted in the final stanza, pulling away late to beat a persistent Stratford team by three goals, with Mikeala Witherow, Lucy and Tommi Carroll all having good games.
Stratford was too good in Lakes Entrance in “C” grade, winning by 13 goals.
The Seagulls were slow starters and reverted to playing catch up from the remainder of the match.
Pohiri Gemmell, Bec Rotheram and Pariss McKendry all worked hard to get Lakes Entrance back in the match, but it was a task too big, the fourth-ranked Stratford playing four consistent quarters.
The Seagulls scored its ninth win of the season in “D” grade, outplaying the Swans by 12 goals.
Lakes Entrance dominated the first term, feeding the ball impressively into the shooters to open up a six-goal deficit at the break.
Stratford rallied hard in the middle two quarters, but the Seagulls upped the tempo in the final stanza, inspired by the under 17s and 15s who came into the side, drawing away to win easily in the finish.
Sarah Kennedy was impressive playing as a shooter, joined in the best by Fiona Yates, Shannae Mills and youngster Bonnie Rotheram.
