By David Ball
Football:
Yarra Glen took on third-placed Emerald at Avonsleigh and looked in trouble early as the home side led by 3 goals halfway through the quarter.
Yarra Glen then started to win the contested ball and linked up well to pile on 4 quick goals to be 3 points in front at the quarter-time break.
Emerald was stung into action and was winning the clearances and then using precise kicking to open up the Yarra Glen back line. The River Pigs defenders worked overtime and were able to restrict the damage
to be just 8 points down at the main break.
When the rain came in the third-quarter Emerald displayed good wet weather skills and moved the ball quickly with some great overlap running. By three-quarter-time, they had extended their lead to 31 points.
In a great team effort, the River Pigs lifted and were winning the contested ball and the clearances. Their tackling pressure lifted and the resultant turnovers saw them moving the ball quickly into an open forward line as they slammed on five unanswered goals.
By the 12-minute mark, the difference was just 3 points. Emerald responded with their midfield starting to win more of the ball. After a number of rushed behinds they eventually hit the scoreboard with 2 goals to run out winners by 12 points. Final score Yarra Glen 12.7 to Emerald 13.13.
The Yarra Glen Reserves had the difficult task of taking on second-placed Emerald with a depleted lineup.
The early going was tough with the River Pigs battling hard to put pressure on their more accomplished opponents. The Yarra Glen boys put in a great effort in the last quarter and halfway it, they had kept Emerald to 1 goal whilst adding one of their own through veteran Bernie Wood.
The River Pigs did tire late in the quarter and eventually went down 2.1 to 18.14.
Netball
Yarra Glen A Grade had a battle with third-placed Emerald and whilst they worked hard they were struggling to complete their forward moves to trail 16-21 at halftime. In the second half, they played
the better netball to outscore their opponents in the third and fourth quarters. They got within 2 goals but could not quite get over the line, losing 37 to 39.
B Grade controlled the game from the start. They increased their lead in each quarter and ended up comfortable winners, 56 to 36.
C Grade started slowly with Emerald jumping out to a 10-goal lead at quarter time. The Yarra Glen girls rallied in the second quarter to get within 4 goals and looked to be playing the better netball.
Emerald steadied and the Yarra girls seem to tire and in the end, their higher-ranked opponents finished 12 goals up, with final scores Yarra Glen 33 to Emerald 45.
The D grade game was a quality, high-scoring encounter. Yarra Glen kept within 1 or 2 goals throughout the first 3 quarters. In a thrilling last quarter, Yarra Glen hit the front late in the game, only to lose possession in the final seconds to end up falling 1 goal short, losing 30 to 31.
