MININERA and District Netball Association suffered a heart breaking one goal loss to Kyabram at Shepparton last Saturday in the interleague showdown.
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Mininera's senior team came out firing in the first quarter with some fast delivery into the goal circle. Steph Burns was shooting from every point within the circle, scoring 10 of the side's 13 first quarter goals.
Kyabram tightened up significantly in the second term and started playing their style of game, with Mininera becoming a little unsettled.
Georgia Muir was stoic in defence and while she gave away inches to her opponent, her ability to deflect the ball and cause defensive turnovers was a highlight of the game. She made her tall opponent work hard and she competed well at each contest.
Muir combined well with Woorndoo/Mortlake team mate Jessica Cameron, who was also putting plenty of pressure on her opponent.
Kyabram certainly took the honours into halftime, with a three goal advantage.
Mininera seemed to be struggling in the midcourt and weren't able to capitalise on the great work of the defence.
After some stern words were spoken at the main break, the Mininera combination came out after halftime and played stronger netball to put them one goal ahead at three quarter time.
Chelsey Smith was moved into the centre, while Courtney Morrow moved into the wing attack role. Tension was paramount in the last quarter with both teams trying to put a gap between themselves and the opposition.
With little separating the two sides during the final term it was a simple turnover in the dying stages that allowed Kyabram to grab the lead and win by the smallest of margins, 41 to 40 in what was a great even contest.
There was better success in the under 17s with Mininera claiming victory 35 to 32.
Mininera's goal attack Chloe Dunmore was dynamic in the first quarter, shooting 10 of the team's 11 goals for the term. She was definite with her leads and very strong in the air, and was able to shoot accurately as a result.
The MDNA went into the first break with a very handy 11 to five goal lead, and while Kyabram stuck with its original line up, it was able to play more settled and much tighter netball in the second quarter to drag Mininera's lead back to just one at the main break.
Maggie Astbury (C) and Brooke Mibus (WA) were steady players through the midcourt, but it was Kyabram's attack that started to find range, allowing them to put pressure on the scoreboard.
Mininera re-grouped at the halftime break with coach Shani Dickins moving Dunmore back into the goal shooter role and bringing Courtney McCrow out to goal attack.
This was an effective change as Mininera was able to deliver the ball to Dunmore accurately and she didn't let them down.
The score line read Mininera 27 to Kyabram 23 at three quarter time, but the match was far from over, with Kyabram coming out more determined in the final term and used their goal shooter as the main target.
The quarter was fast flowing with some simple errors by both teams.
Each time Mininera looked like pulling away, Kyabram caused a turnover and drew closer. Mininera was able to hang on in the end and win by three goals, 35-32 in a great even contest.
Mininera's under 13s attacked the ball right from the opening whistle, although some early errors allowed Kyabram to create several turnovers which proved to be costly.
The young Mininera brigade found their rhythm with some great work in the circle by goal shooter Monique Dowling and some strong defensive work by goal keeper Ayla Huf.
Mininera coach Emily Huglin moved Dowling out to goal attack to start the second quarter, while Sarah Phillips' move into the goal shooter role increased the scoring power of the Mininera team.
The quarter was similar to the first, with both teams going goal-for-goal with some strong work being done through the midcourt by Mininera's Kayla Stuchbree and Kiara Pitcher.
Kyabram pushed its lead out by a further two to giving it a five goal advantage at the main break.
Kate Millear came on at wing defence for Mininera in the second half, while Kyabram also made some changes to its line up which saw the margin remain the same at the final change.
The fourth quarter belonged to Mininera, with some brilliant intercepts through the midcourt by Pitcher, who was strong at each contest.
The Moyston/Willaura player's ability to turn the ball over was pivotal.
Had Mininera's attackers been able to convert, the team would have levelled with Kyabram, however some tight defence meant the opportunity was lost and Kyabram went on to win 31 goals to 28.