Timboon Demons, East Warrnambool play out surprise draw in WDFNL netball

The Leah Sinnott-led side, which sits in sixth spot just two points outside the Warrnambool and District league top-five, struggled to find its rhythm against the Bombers.

Sinnott is confident the Demons can bounce back from the 51-all draw.

"We could have won the game at certain points but we were on the back foot from the start," she said.

"They were a good team. It was the first time I'd seen them play and from what everyone was telling me they weren't flash and were on the bottom with no wins.

"We walked in with little expectation around it but what they put together was very impressive.

"I am not saying we played horrible because that would take away from how well they played."

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Sinnott said the Bombers transitioned the ball well from the centre, making the most of their height in the goal circle. She said the game tested the Demons' mettle.

"We were down by seven goals at one point so we managed to claw our way back," Sinnott said.

"We were up at one point but we were pretty much down for 50 minutes of a 60-minute game."

East Warrnambool coach Donna Chatfield said the result had fuelled the Bombers' belief ahead of their next match against 10th-placed Allansford.

"It was a win for us, that's for sure. We came off the court happy and excited that all our hard work had paid off," she said.

"We have all found our feet. We are all getting to training and we really had each other's backs on court yesterday.

"I said to the girls 'that is how we should be playing and what I expect every week' and they understand that."

Chatfield said the Bombers came out firing but took lessons out of some second-half errors.

Merrivale was another finals hopeful left breathing a sigh of relief after edging out Allansford, which has one win to its name, 39-38.

Tigers coach Carly Peake said said her side "turned up expecting to win".

"We were very lucky but we'll take the four points," she said.

Three teenagers - Ebony Lilley, Layla Wilson and Maddi Giblin - impressed Peake and could receive more game time in the future.

Tatum Cassidy is expected to play next week despite sitting most of the game on the Tigers' bench with an injured ankle.

Nirranda coach Steph Townsend, who netted 41 goals, was dominant in her team's 70-38 win over Panmure. But the Bulldogs' youngsters showed plenty of promise.

"I'm absolutely impressed with them, stepping up on the stronger bodies of A grade players is amazing," said coach Panmure Stacy Dunkley.

Jacque Dickson, 16, played her first A grade match and scored five goals in the fourth quarter.

Dunkley said the 17 and under player had a beautiful shot. Charlotte Lenehan, 17, was another young goalie who finished with 26 goals.

Dunkley was proud of the way her team persisted against one of the league's juggernauts.

"It was always going to be a tough game," she said.

"We had goals of restricting them to a certain amount of goals per quarter and we actually did that."

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