IT WAS one down and five to go for the Leongatha Football Netball Club after the Parrots' Under 15 netballers started a big day for Leongatha on Preliminary Final day at Sale.
The Parrots came up against a polished Traralgon side destined for greatness but the Parrots still had their moments, especially when they closed the margin down to five goals halfway through the second quarter.
But ultimately it was a clear win to the Maroons.
Match report: Leongatha’s Under 15s started nervously in their preliminary final at Sale overthrowing their passes and turning it over more in exuberance rather than a lack of skill. They forced numerous turnovers, especially in defence with the Traralgon girls also finding their feet but ultimately it was the Maroons who settled first, made sure of their passes and hit their goals to go out to a 7-3 opening.
Gemma Meadley was having a good game in GD constantly coming forward to contest the incoming passes and Claudia Donohue was constantly in the move through the middle presenting in open positions.
The Leongatha girls settled early in the second quarter and pulled back the lead with more of their players getting involved including GA Lucy Heber who was coming forward strongly to make the play and Lara Cocksedge in WA providing an alternate avenue down the court.
Towards the end of the quarter Traralgon reestablished their lead by half time 15-8.
Leongatha made a few changes to keep players fresh with Lacy Fennell and Claudia swapping back in centre and a few other positional changes. The teams swapped turnovers at the start of the third quarter but it was Traralgon who got the first goal to go further ahead their defenders getting on top of the Leongatha shooters. Finally though Leongatha got two goals in a row and they settled again.
A sensational goal by Lara Cocksedge from range on the run was a beauty but Traralgon had a 10-goal buffer spurred on by a big contingent of Traralgon thirds players behind the goals.
At three quarter time Traralgon led 23-12 with a big job in front of the Parrots.
Traralgon continued on but there were plenty of highlights through the last quarter for Leongatha with Lara Cocksedge making a great intercept in attack and up the other end Gemma Meadley playing strongly in GD. But the Traralgon defenders were right on top of their game and the goals for Leongatha were hard to come by.
In the end it was a clear win by Traralgon but and entertaining game nonetheless full of great individual contests on a great day for spectators if a little taxing for the players.
Final score Leongatha 17 lost to Traralgon 34
