Whorouly A grade push Demons to the limit

THE Lions’ netballers can take a wellspring of confidence from their efforts on the weekend, splitting the points with a talented Milawa A grade side 45-45. Whorouly took some time to adjust to the footspeed and rapid ball movement the Demons produced, but the Lions never allowed themselves to be shut out of the game. As the match wore on, the Demons maintained a healthy lead, but Whorouly worked hard late in the game to come back and even the score. If the match had run even a few minutes longer, they could’ve taken the full raft of points on offer, but coach Kelly Cousins was very impressed with the performance. “Everyone stepped up when it mattered most,” she said. “The first quarter was tightly contested, and with Milawa’s speed, it took us some time to adjust to the pace of the game. “On our end, the attackers remained consistent and stuck to the game plan. “Through patience and discipline, we started to break through in the second half. “The final quarter saw a shift in momentum, thanks to strong full-court defensive pressure, which opened up opportunities for both Eb [Allen] and Laura [Keighran] to snag a few key intercepts. “That final-quarter comeback was a true team effort—it came down to everyone locking into their roles and lifting their intensity.” The Lions have the chance to climb up the ladder this weekend when they take on a fledgling Benalla All Blacks squad at home. While the Panthers haven’t set the league on fire this season, they’re a proud and capable side, and Whorouly will have to be at their best to bank the four points. “Our girls absolutely have a never-give-up mindset - it’s never over until the final whistle, and they’re always ready to rise to the challenge,” Cousins said. “We’ve been finishing games strongly, which is a real positive, but there’s still work to do in making sure we don’t give away big leads that are impossible to reel in.” Over on the footy field, it was a tougher day for the Lions. Up against tough opponents Milawa, both grades came up short, with the seniors fighting hard to a 9.6 (60) to 14.11 (95) loss. An eight-point margin at quarter time began to widen through the second, with Whorouly unable to effectively stymie Milawa’s impressive midfield and forward groups. Several injuries throughout the game meant the Lions were operating with a limited bench, but they ran the game out well. Michael Newton was the target up forward, finishing with eight of his side’s nine goals, while Jessie Smith and Russell Eden were impressive, with Will Allen among the best in his 50th club game. The Lions return home this weekend to host Benalla All Blacks, with netball from 9.10am and football from 12pm.

Whorouly A grade push Demons to the limit

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