While Ocean Grove’s netball rivalry with cross-river opponents Barwon Heads might not be as intense as their footy counterparts, A Grade captain Emily Moroney is still wary of the Seagulls’ ability to cause an upset.
The Grubbers are second on the ladder with an 11-1 record so far and the Heads are eighth with three wins and the two sides meet this Saturday in what appears, on face value anyway, to be a potentially lopsided contest.
“It’s a weird one, there’s probably not that same kind of rivalry,” Moroney said.
“There’s not many rivalries existing anymore. I think everyone is just out there to win and play some good netball and enjoy themselves.
“I think every week this year and even last year, you always have to go into each game putting your best foot forward and really expecting that they’re going to come out firing. It was pretty close the last time we played them so hopefully we will look to continue our performance on the weekend and that kind of full four-quarter seamless effort into next week that will be the aim.”
Ocean Grove brushed aside fifth-placed Torquay in round 12 on Saturday June 22 with ease. The 72 to 48 win at home was an impressive four-quarter performance.
“Just the full court, full game effort, playing out 60 minutes of really good quality netball – I felt like that was 100 percent our best game of the season,” she said.
“And everyone just was gelling together, I feel like we are at a point of the season now where we’ve kind of all had some time together to build those relationships both on and off the court.”
Young goal attack Arlee Bennett started the game slowly, making a few uncharacteristic passing errors, but didn’t let it affect her. She would go on to be one of the Grubbers’ best players.
“She’s such a skillful player and I forget how young she is, she’s only 19,” Moroney said.
“So for her to play a full game in goal attack in a pretty physical game and keep her head and put up all her shots. She’s pretty good. She loves the long shot range.”
ROUND 12
A GRADE
Ocean Grove 72 def Torquay 48. Best: Ocean Grove – Emily Moroney, Jessica Leader, Arlee Bennett. Torquay – Lauren Berridge, Elisa Hall, Julia Allan-Goodwin.
B GRADE
Ocean Grove 38 def Torquay 35. Best: Ocean Grove Shelby Hackett, Isabel Hackett, Amelia Cunningham. Torquay – Teegan Powell, Abbey OHanlon, Milly van Eck.
C GRADE
Ocean Grove 28 def Torquay 20. Best: Ocean Grove – Amelia Hallam, Maddy Goodger, Sofia Dickeson. Torquay – Annabelle Dunn, Sarah Ferguson, Bethany Garlick.
D GRADE
Ocean Grove 34 def Torquay 27. Best: Ocean Grove – Paula Birch, Abbey Stanic, Tarryn Stanley. Torquay – not supplied.
E GRADE
Ocean Grove 17 def by Torquay 19. Best: Ocean Grove – Kylie Collett, Evie Hines, Emilie Punton. Torquay – Jasmine Spedding, Keziah Halliwell, Emily Biram.
19 & UNDER
Ocean Grove 16 def by Torquay 34. Best: Ocean Grove – Tylah Foley, Evannah Greenfield, Evie Hines. Torquay – not supplied.
17 & UNDER DIVISION 1
Ocean Grove 21 def by Torquay 29. Best: Ocean Grove – Ella Brown, Amelia Stanic, Maggie Drake. Torquay – not supplied.
17 & UNDER DIVISION 2
Ocean Grove 19 def by Torquay 23. Best: Ocean Grove – Piper Needham, Olivia Grogan, Molly Larsen. Torquay – Indiana Long, Grace Maw, Betty Blackley.
15 & UNDER DIVISION 1
Ocean Grove 13 def by Torquay 22. Best: Ocean Grove – Charli Burke, Alice Sampson, Lucy Neaves. Torquay – Grace Healy, Remy Sliwa, Sienna Mcginness.
15 & UNDER DIVISION 2
Ocean Grove 18 def by Torquay 25. Best: Ocean Grove – Caitlin Parker, Ashley Sutherland, Grace van Maasdyk. Torquay – Jayda Hooiveld, Teagan Reade, Tara Asbell.
13 & UNDER DIVISION 1
Ocean Grove 11 def by Torquay 34. Best: Ocean Grove – Tayte McKenzie, Abharna Sanjeev, Willow Stephenson. Torquay – Violet Miers, Isla Webber, Zoe Wilde.
13 & UNDER DIVISION 2
Ocean Grove 11 def by Torquay 28. Best: Ocean Grove – Matilda Kerr, Evie Davis. Torquay – Maicie Hay, Ava Swann, Holly Read.
