THE PENINSULA Waves produced their best performance of the Victorian Men’s & Mixed Netball Association (VMMNA) Junior season, with the 17 and Under 17 drawing with title contender WDNA. Coming off a 19-goal loss to St Therese the week before, the Waves stood tall against WDNA to look likely to snatch the win, before a fast-finishing WDNA drew level.

In the match of the round, neither Peninsula Waves nor WDNA could be split in a momentum-swinging game. Peninsula raced out to a 15-10 lead courtesy of 13 first quarter goals from Carter Morritiy and by half-time the goal shooter had 31 goals to his name. The Waves were on fire and had built a six-goal buffer by the main break. A switch of Nick O’Meara – who was thrown from goal attack to goal keeper after the main break, kept Morritiy to eight goals in that time.

That spurred on a comeback from WNDA, who while it took a quarter to really click into gear, roared to life in the last courtesy of 13 goals to seven which saw them tie the match and split the points at 48 goals apiece. Harrison Lefebure was sensational in wing attack, while Khi Horsburgh was the key goal scorer, putting up 25 goals in the match. For the Waves, Morritiy was the standout for that first half, while Christian Doukas scored 12 goals and supported him well in goal attack.

It was more straightforward in the other match, as St Therese took home the chocolates against Darebin, winning by 13 goals. In that game, an 18-14 first term got the title contenders off to a perfect start, though Darebin drew level by half-time. It was the third term that proved the difference in the match, with St Therese slamming on 17 goals to five – 13 coming from Reikken Brodie – to build a 12-goal lead. It was a fairly even final quarter, but the damage had been done and St Therese saluted, 57-44.

Brodie would finish the match with a dominant 37 goals to his name, while Ryan Lovell impressed in goal defence, and Zachary Vesovic taking control in the midcourt. Darebin’s Jamie Shannon added 30 goals in the loss, as Ryan Francis D’Amour was busy in the final three quarters at centre.

17 & UNDER ROUND 5 RESULTS:

Peninsula Waves (48) drew with WDNA (48)
St Therese (57) defeated Darebin (44)

The two competition favourites in the 14 and Under grade had no problems coming away with a couple more victories, as WDNA and St Therese defeated TBC and Melbourne Up & Comers respectively. WDNA won by 23 goals over TBC, with the second and fourth quarters combining for 30-7 doing the bulk of the damage. For St Therese, a 9-1 fourth term put the final nail in the coffin against Melbourne Up & Comers, helping secure a 12-goal victory.

The WDNA-TBC match started slowly with the former getting out to a narrow one-goal lead, 5-4. That changed in the second term as WDNA piled on 16 goals to three to build what would be an unassailable advantage. TBC found a second wind in the third term to reduce the deficit by one goal, but WDNA put the foot on the gas yet again in the last, scoring 14 goals to four to win by 23, 39-16.

Max Major was a standout for the winners in centre, working well with Noah Bacon in midcourt, while Brayden Sonnenberg limited the opposition shooters. Declan Lawton played goal defence, wing attack, centre and then goal shooter across the four quarters, showcasing the TBC utility’s versatility across the contest.

St Therese did not quite get to shake off Melbourne Up & Comers until the final term, holding a four-goal lead at the first three breaks. Melbourne Up & Comers managed to break even in the second and third quarters, before the favourites kicked away with nine goals to one, to win by 12 goals, 31-19. Jackson Lee (17 goals) lead the scoring for St Therese, well supported by Wynter Morgan Eeles (10), while Jack Shaw was steadfast in defence. For Melbourne Up & Comers, Connor Dipharis was outstanding for the first half in wing attack, then moved in goal attack in the final term.

14 & UNDER ROUND 5 RESULTS:

WDNA (39) defeated TBC (16)
St Therese (31) defeated Melbourne Up & Comers (19)