By Max Davies

WALLAN’S senior footballers kept to their winning ways in round 13 action of the Riddell District Football Netball League competition, taking out an encouraging win over the Melton Centrals.

Despite a relatively tough start that left the Magpies three points down at half time, they were able to adapt to match conditions and contain the Centrals’ charge to finish the day with a 22-point victory.

The result means Wallan has now recorded four wins in a row and will be looking to carry that momentum into tough matches towards the end of the season.

Wallan assistant coach Spencer Mathieson said it was important the team continued to meet its expectations, even when in front on the scoreboard.

“Melton played pretty well, they’re pretty well organised and had a definite game plan, which we took a while to adapt to. In the end we had a lot better second half,” he said.

“We’ve got expectations on a few key areas that we have to tick off and we just weren’t as good as we can be, so [after the first quarter] we just needed to be better.”

Multiple players stood out in the weekend’s match, including Steven Boyall, Brodie Gilchrist, Brenton Cox, Corey Viani, Patrick Baccari and Hayden Gill – the latter two scoring a goal each while Wallan finished with a total of 17 behinds to nine goals.

“We had a lot of chances in the second half and we just didn’t nail our opportunities – that can happen,” Mathieson said.

“The positive is that we’re creating the opportunities – you can’t kick goals if you don’t create them. We just have to make sure we convert next time.”

Saturday’s match was one of the last home games for Wallan this season, with this weekend’s match-up taking them on the road to face top-of-the-ladder Diggers Rest in what Mathieson called ‘the biggest test in the competition’.

Despite the Burras remaining undefeated so far this year, Mathieson said his side had a good recent head-to-head record and was confident in a decent result.

“It’s the biggest test in the competition to play there, they’re undefeated and I’d say they’re premiership favourites,” he said.

“We have no fear to play them, but we’ve just got to make sure that we put together four quarters and we’ll be in the contest. We’re looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile Romsey’s best efforts were not enough to match in-form Riddell, who are now enjoying a six-game winning streak in an effort to chase down Woodend-Hesket for third on the ladder.

Despite holding a 25-point advantage at half time, the Redbacks were unable to hold back the charging Bombers as the third quarter got underway – conceding six goals while only scoring one.

Romsey will have a chance to regroup and stabilise this weekend, as it prepares to host the winless Western Rams.

The Rams went down in a 165 to 23 loss against Woodend-Hesket at the weekend, while the formidable Burras defeated Macedon in its 11th win of the season.

Lancefield will return from a bye to face the Cats in a challenging away game.

Netball

Wallan’s A Grade netballers again endured a hard-fought match against Melton Centrals at the weekend and recorded their second tied result in three rounds.

Despite starting strong in the first half with encouraging goalscoring from Maeve Donegan and Rebekah Konstantopoulos, the Magpies were unable to hold the advantage as the Centrals came back to match for 39 points.

The result leaves Wallan fifth on the ladder with 28 points in close competition with Romsey, Western Rams and the Centrals – the four teams separated by just two points.

Wallan will face Diggers Rest this weekend, the Burras sitting eighth following a loss to Macedon in round 13.

Much like its senior footballers, Romsey was unable to overcome Riddell’s challenge despite a consistently strong scoring effort from goal shooter Emma Grech – who contributed 34 to her side’s 38-point total.

Romsey will face the Rams at home this weekend in an important match for the ladder standings, while Lancefield will be looking to break its winless streak as it returns to face Macedon.