Ararat on target
Wimmera netball heavyweights Minyip-murtoa and Horsham will do battle at Murtoa on Saturday after both recorded convincing wins at the weekend.
The Burras outclassed Stawell after trailing at quarter time, doubling their opponents’ score over the next three quarters to win 64-40.
Kirby Knight posted a half-century with 50 goals while Alex Lang’s intercept work in defence helped stifle the Warriors after quarter time.
Jemma Clarkson has been a standout for Stawell so far this season and continued her strong play in the loss, netting 25 goals at goal attack.
Horsham, meanwhile, ground down Dimboola with a strong four-quarter performance, winning 61-42.
Interleague representative Georgia Hiscock helped hold Dimboola’s Billie-jo Barber to just eight goals through three quarters, earning her best on court honours. Rhiannon Butler worked hard in the midcourt, battling Horsham centre Paige Lloyd for most of the day.
The Roos have a round six bye, while the Warriors will now take on Horsham Saints.
The reigning premiers’ patchy start to the season continued with a two-goal loss to Warrack Eagles at the weekend.
The Saints trailed by eight goals at three quarter time and looked well out of the contest, but rallied to hold the Eagles to just four fourth-quarter goals.
Eight goals from Lavinia Fox gave the Saints a sniff in the dying minutes, but Eagles goal keeper Jenna Schulz played on Fox in the first half before matching up against Abby Hallam in the second, and Molly Stewart’s 28-goal performance led the side to victory.
The Eagles have an opportunity to further solidify a place in the top five with a match against Nhill on Saturday.
The Tigers proved no match for Southern Mallee Giants at the weekend, scoring only two goals in the second quarter of a 58-16 defeat.
Lauren Tink worked hard as always in the centre and Sinead Kuchel competed well, but the shooting of Giants Steph Thomson and Amy Dodds overwhelmed Nhill.
Despite the good win the Giants must adjust this week, with a game against top side Ararat following their meeting with bottom side Nhill.
The Rats had a bye at the weekend and will be hard to contain after a rest.
Ararat is the league’s top scoring side so far this season, averaging more than 50 goals a game.