Best: Emily Laracy, Gemma Muldoon
Wangaratta Magpies are an experienced unit, with big names in all positions. They are quick, agile and were accurate in the opening minutes. Some unforced errors saw the opposition get the jump on the Yarra team.
The Pigeons gave it everything and the game ebbed and flowed with the rolling sub utilised across the four quarters.
Yarrawonga’s defence was ruthless in their matchplay. Kylie Leslie, Emily Laracy and Annalise Grinter combined well, their footwork and strong rebounds providing the attack with ample opportunity to score. Gemma Muldoon is settling in well with the midcourt trio, her drive and speed out of defence was instrumental in setting up the attack.
Laura Ryan, Laura Irvine, Tilly Kennedy and Em McNamara drove all day in hot conditions, providing plenty of precision feeds to our goalers.
Kaleisha Pell and Maddy Allan are two tall targets in the ring, shooting from range and with the ability to run and rotate. They are a young combination who combine well with Bridget Cassar.
The girls are working hard on some new combinations and look forward to the challenges over the next few weeks and hitting some form before the bye.
B Grade
Yarrawonga 28 lost to Wangaratta 30
Best: Olivia Lovell, Maddie Kennedy
It was a tough game for the B Grade team this week against Wang Magpies who sit just out of the top five. The girls worked hard and tirelessly all game in both defence and attack. We saw new shooting combinations take the court with Maddie Kennedy stepping seamlessly into both GS and GA and earning herself an award.
The defence over the whole court was great again as the girls worked hard getting turnovers and rebounds, the defensive backbone Olivia Lovell playing another great game.
Unfortunately losing by two goals, but the girls head into next week determined get another win on the board.
C Grade
Yarrawonga 25 lost to Wangaratta 40
Best: Emma Sinclair, Grace Eales
The C Grade girls knew they were coming up against a difficult team, not having beaten them until the first final last season.
Wangaratta came out strong from the start having lost the first centre, with Yarrawonga behind all game. The entire team continued to chip away throughout the whole game. There were some great passages of play, however the Magpies were just too strong across the board.
Awards went to Emma Sinclair, who has continued to grind all game creating great drives and feeding into the circle along with applying defensive pressure. Grace Eales received the other award, playing a great game in the ring as well as getting an opportunity to play in WA which proved successful with her opening the court right up and creating great drives onto the ball.
Under 17
Yarrawonga 37 Wangaratta Magpies 31
Awards: Players: Maisie Pell; Coaches: Emma Thompson
Our Under 17s were able to match the Magpies throughout most of the game but couldn’t quite pip them in the last quarter.
We welcomed back Maisie Pell who filled in whilst her team had the bye. We also had three of the U15s players debut with Kendall Connell, Emily Liddell and Ruby O’Kane all playing exceptionally in the earlier game and earning an opportunity in U17s.
A wonderful combined effort by Milla, Skai and Maisie in the defensive end gave Yarrawonga plenty of opportunities throughout the game.
Strong drives and defensive pressure from our midcourters - Mia, Emma, Claudia, Indi, Kendall and Emily - allowed the girls to get the ball deep into the attacking end and gave Yarrawonga plenty of fresh legs for rotations.
Lucy, Skai, Ruby and Maisie all contributed to our scoreboard pressure and kept us within one goal with five minutes left in the last quarter. Unfortunately, the girls went down 37-31 after a hard-fought game.
Under 15
Yarrawonga 46 defeated Wangaratta 39
Best: Kendall Connell, Ruby O’Kane
What an exciting game the Under 15 girls played on Saturday. The girls trained well all week and were feeling confident on claiming their first victory.
The Pigeons got off to a great start and out to an early first quarter lead of five goals and maintained this throughout the game.
Both goalers, Ruby and Lenni, combined well and kept getting more confident as the game went on - their accuracy very high throughout the game. Chloe had a strong performance playing WA, feeding the ball well into the goalers. Our captain Kendall led the girls to victory, putting on a solid display in defence and taking some great intercepts.
Saturday saw the U15s win their first ever game in the Ovens and Murray competition against the Magpies, and the only victory for the day for Yarrawonga netball. A very emotional game with many highs. A few tears of joy were also shed after the game.
Pigeons Loft
WOW what a round of football and netball Round 4 was: the U15s win, Ladies’ Day and the 1st XVIII home in a thriller.
But the most important first. They say you are only as good as your last game, and with the YFNC U15s pulling out their first victory in the O and M, well let’s make it a second win this weekend. The 2023 season was a steep learning curve for the youngest Pigeons but we hope the lessons of what can be achieved if you are prepared to continue to front up stay with you through life. It is how we handle adversity that defines us.
Next up, Ladies’ Day and Paris Bonat and Cait Jaques outdid themselves (again). They also had some great help from Bang Events (make sure you hit up Drew and Anna Barnes for any event) and Jaycees. Events such as those held by Paris and Cait do not just happen and the whole YFNC community would like to thank both these lovely ladies for the efforts. Bring on the 2025 Mint Boutique Ladies Day.
And yes, there were some good games played but unfortunately Wangaratta took the chocolates in six of the eight games and if not for some Perry Lewis-Smith brilliance late it might have been just the U15s saluting for the day.
Finally, the day also saw the unfurling of the 2023 premiership flag and also the naming of the outer wing scoreboard in honour of past president Glenn Brear (97-15). It was great to see some many of his family there for the surprise.
This week we make the track across for the rumble on the river … let’s hope we can bring a few Ws home.
If you have not got your membership, they are available at Hargraves during business hours: 16 Orr Street, Yarrawonga.
We take this opportunity to thank our major partners: ClubMulwala, Kennedy Builders, Belmores, betr, RuralCo, the Play Project, Yarrawonga Holiday Park, Yarrawonga Hotel and BG Finance.
Thursday Nights
In 2024 our Thursday Night Teas will continue each Thursday before an Ovens and Murray match. With the byes weekends we will do our best to keep you informed – Follow/Like our Facebook page to keep updated.
Awards – Football
1sts - Harry Wheeler
2nds - Reid Clarke
3rds - Pat Waugh
Awards – Netball
These awards in 2024 will again be brought to by the Yarrawonga Hotel, Bella Pelle and Mint Boutique.
Important Dates:
May 18 – Annual Club Ball at Club Mulwala
June 8 – Annual Past Players Function at the JC Lowe Oval (midday)
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