Sport
15 September, 2023
Three flags for Nirranda
NIRRANDA is the toast of the Warrnambool District League, winning both the senior football and netball premierships along with the A reserve netball premiership.
Thousands of fans packed Warrnambool’s Reid Oval last Saturday to enjoy the league’s grand final day.
Perfect playing conditions for most of the day laid the foundations for some great games across both the footy field and netball courts.
The highly anticipated clash between Nirranda and ladder leaders Merrivale was a relatively low-scoring affair, reflecting the intensity of the match and the struggle from both sides to make any great impact on the scoreboard.
Defensive pressure from Nirranda saw the Tigers struggle to convert in the first half, adding just one goal and two behinds to the board going into the main break – 27 points down.
Another low-scoring third term saw the Tigers bridge the gap to 23 points at three-quarter time before both sides added three majors in the final term.
Final scores were Nirranda 9.8.62 to Merrivale 6.5.41.
Best for the victors were Danny Craven, Mathew Lloyd, Jackson Couch, James Willsher, Jeremy Stacey and Brayden Harkness.
Goals went to Jackson Couch (4), Jason Lee (3) and Jeremy Stacey (2).
For Merrivale, Jack Gleeson, Jalen Porter, Tate Porter, Billy Hancocks, Reggie Barling and James Fary were named in the best.
Goal scorers: Dylan Weir (2) and one each from Bradley Bell, Oliver Doukas, Matt Hausler and Tate Porter.
South Rovers was celebrating on Saturday following its win over Russells Creek, 6.10.46 to 0.9.9 to take home the premiership flag.
Best for South were Miles Picken, Alex Koutsoukis, Luke Coughlan, Ty Wood, Cody Mailes and William Outwaite – with goals to Outhwaite and Picken (two each), Coughlan and Scott Nicholson.
For Russells Creek, Bill Melican, Nathan Bradley, Ruben Cottee, Xavier Short, Marcus Askew and Ryan Cooke were named in the best.
Kolora Noorat dominated the under 18 grand final, defeating Timboon 10.8.68 to 2.1.13 while in the under 15s Timboon defeated Allansford 6.9.45 to 4.3.27.
In the under 13s, Old Collegians defeated Russells Creek 3.2.20 to 2.3.15.
Best for Allansford were Jake Carman, Harry van Rooy, Spencer Petschel, Lachlan Rea, Jaylen Robson and Sam White.
In the open netball, Nirranda took out the premiership title defeating Merrivale 48-37.
A reserve was also won by Nirranda, defeating Merrivale 35-28.
B grade: Merrivale defeated Old Collegians 31-24.
17 and under: Merrivale defeated Old Collegians 42-23. 15 and under: Old Collegians defeated Merrivale 31-22.
13 and under: Dennington defeated Old Collegians 26-7.
